After completing the program in 2025, Edward Seabourne Jr. walked away with new tools and new habits.
“Learning to read food labels changed how I eat,” he said. “Now I buy canned peaches with no added sugar, not the ones in syrup, and use an app on my phone to pick the healthiest products.”
He also learned the value of eating smaller, more frequent meals.
“I used to skip meals and then overeat — usually fried or fast food,” he said. “This class gave me the tools and support I needed to change my bad food habits and manage my diabetes.”
Real results and staying power
Balanced Living with Diabetes isn’t just helping people make changes — it’s helping them sustain them.
In 2024, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) awarded a grant to Virginia Cooperative Extension and the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors to study the power of social support in diabetes management.
The project builds on the program’s foundation by integrating “New Beginnings: A discussion guide for living well with diabetes,” a CDC-developed tool designed to spark peer discussion and community connection. The goal is to see how peer support can help participants build and maintain healthier habits.
