March is National Nutrition Month!

National Nutrition Month is a campaign created by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics to help educate individuals on how to make better-informed food choices and develop healthier eating habits. This year's theme is Celebrate A World of Flavors, where we are encouraged to celebrate flavors from cultures around the world to nourish our bodies and appreciate our diversity. The campaign includes a toolkit with handouts, games, and activities and a social media toolkit with sample posts and photos to help share the helpful information and resources provided by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Johnson County’s Diabetes Coalition has been around for many years and transitioned through a variety of programs and focus areas. In the last few years, we have been focusing on healthy meal preparation, cooking classes incorporating fresh fruits and vegetables, and Gentle Yoga/arthritis exercise classes through partnerships with our farmers market, senior centers, and Extension office. The need for specific diabetes workshops for individuals in the county is rising, so when the Appalachian Diabetes Network at Marshall University announced a funding opportunity from funds raised by the Pediatrics and Passage Club at Lincoln Memorial University we jumped at the chance to have some additional funds to spring into some new efforts. We were thrilled to learn we are the recipients of this grant cycle and plan to use these funds to recruit new and past participants to engage them more with chronic disease prevention. Through new partnerships with a local doctor and pharmacist, we are going to be offering quarterly classes for individuals with diabetes to focus on specific aspects of wellness. We are expecting this to open to include the opportunities for additional chronic disease prevention activities, grocery store shopping trips, Dining with Diabetes workshops, cooking classes, and more ongoing diabetes educational activities. We are incredibly grateful for the support and boost from the Appalachian Diabetes Network and Lincoln Memorial University, with their help – we will be doing some great things this year! As with smaller, rural communities, word of mouth is the best method for reaching individuals, so we will be working closely with all our partner organizations to help spread the word and promote activities that encourage health, diabetes wellness and healthy living. We’re excited for these quarterly classes and the hands-on opportunity for specialists, nutritionists, and dieticians to help answer questions from the residents of Johnson County who are learning how to live well and self-manage their diabetes or help with the care of a loved one who has diabetes.

Creating a Culture of Health in Appalachia: Disparities and Bright Spots is a health research initiative that helps identify and explore communities throughout Appalachia with better-than-expected health outcomes, called Bright Spot communities. The initiative also documents health disparities throughout the region and offers practical strategies and recommendations for community leaders and members interested in pursuing health equity and promoting better health in their communities. Click the link to learn more about the initiative and explore the programs and activities offered in Bright Spot communities.

Strengthening Community-Clinical Linkages: Community and Healthcare Provider Perspectives

Marshall University

WHEN: April 19th, 2022 12:00 - 12:30 PM EST

Spring is on its way, and with the new season comes an opportunity to try something new with your garden! The National Gardening Association releases a weekly newsletter with tips, tricks, and resources for all of your gardening needs.

The National Gardening Association website also has a vegetable, fruit, and herb gardening guide with all of the information and tools you need to successfully grow your own food!

Click the links below to check out the most recent March newsletter that includes articles on how to easily grow your own potatoes and the Food Gardening Guide.

As a member of the Appalachian Diabetes Network, coalitions can request technical assistance and leader training to build the coalition's capacity to implement evidence-based physical activity, nutrition, and self-management activities. These programs can help reduce the prevalence of diabetes and improve the overall health of rural Appalachian communities. To learn more about the efforts of the coalitions in your state, or in the network, you can use the Coalition Coordinators contact list. For additional support or help with securing resources, contact Shelia Plogger at [email protected].

The Appalachian Diabetes Network is celebrating 20 years of service! We partner with underserved rural counties across the Appalachian region to reduce diabetes prevalence rates. Over the past two decades, our program has focused on building and strengthening community coalitions to improve overall health outcomes for communities that face geographic, economic, and social barriers. Over the last two decades, 93 community-based organizations across 8 states throughout rural Appalachia communities have shared a collective goal to reduce or eliminate chronic disease health disparities. With the strength and resilience of our communities, we exemplify what it means to be Appalachia Strong!