Greenup County Health Department Extension Services to Host Dining with Diabetes 2026 A Dinner with Your Healthy Future in Mind

Greenup County Health Department Extension Services to Host Dining with Diabetes 2026

A Dinner with Your Healthy Future in Mind

Gideon Thompson

The Ashland Beacon

Diabetes can be debilitating, as the condition affects blood sugar by preventing the pancreas from producing the correct amounts of insulin needed to break down sugar in the body. Insulin has a main function as a hormone that unlocks cells, allowing glucose to feed them as it enters their structures. Our bodies turn food we consume into glucose by breaking what we have eaten down so that the fuel we require to push through the day is available and used as needed. With diabetes, glucose remains present in the blood, affecting other areas of the body by disrupting function as it is thrown off from desirable levels the body may need to operate efficiently.

There are three types of diabetes known in common medical observations: Type 1 Diabetes, Type 2 Diabetes, and Gestational Diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is declared when tests confirm that the body is responsible for preventing insulin production, as the process is disrupted by attacks on the immune system. Type 2 diabetes is related to diet and lowered movement throughout the day, as the body slows insulin production needed to digest appropriately, causing insulin production to become imbalanced. Gestational diabetes is a unique form of diabetes that becomes present during pregnancy and may occur even when the person has no prior history of diabetes. Every form of diabetes brings with it a different cause, with the similar outcome being the misregulation of insulin in the body. No matter which type of diabetes someone may be diagnosed with, the outcome is the same, as sugar or glucose in the body becomes unused and, as a result, rises in levels, causing a variety of issues.

In recognition of the rise and staggering numbers related to diabetes diagnoses in the area, the Greenup County Health Department and Greenup County Extension Service are hosting their second Dining with Diabetes event. Dining with Diabetes 2026 is intended to serve the community and surrounding areas by hosting a dining event focused on educating attendees about new ways to recognize unhealthy eating habits that may affect those with diabetes. The event will also include a free dinner featuring a tomato-cucumber salad as the appetizer, with a main course of roasted lemon herb chicken served with roasted sweet potatoes, carrots, and green beans. Dessert will be a chocolate hummus dip with a variety of fruits, showcasing the importance of regulating sugar intake with substitutions of healthier options that may be readily available in most grocery stores.

Dining with Diabetes 2026 will host speakers from the Greenup County area, such as Nicky Christian, who will present educational insight into diabetes, its causes, outcomes of the diagnosis, and what may come with the illness. Andrea Collins, a registered dietitian, is also scheduled as a speaker and will present dietary regulation ideas, identification of underlying issues, ways to correct diets and exercise routines, and common practices for those suffering from diabetes. Live music from Velvet Aire is listed for the venue, providing attendees with a beautiful background of jazz as well as modern music with performer Anne Stephens and others. Booths and vendors will be present at the event, one being King’s Daughters Medical Center, which will provide free A1C checks as well as handouts and answer any questions attendees may have pertaining to diabetes and their diets. The scope of the age range for the Dining with Diabetes 2026 event is 65 years of age and older, while all other ages are still welcome to dine and learn about living with diabetes and the dietary changes that come with the diagnosis.

With rates of diabetes rising and the local area having significantly high levels of diagnosed individuals, this event will focus on educating those who would like to discover more about the condition while also providing a network for support and medical expertise. Diabetes can bring with it a lifetime of discomfort and debilitating effects, as the condition is known to cause foot complications such as vessel damage and nerve issues that could result in amputation, neuropathy, eye disease, kidney disease, and cardiovascular disease.

The dinner is scheduled for Thursday, February 12th, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Greenup County UK Extension Office, located at 358 Wurtland Ave., Greenup, Kentucky. The event requires a reservation by ticket, which can be found on the Greenup County Health Department Facebook page by clicking on the event advertisement for Dining with Diabetes 2026. The link for ticket registration is located on the right-hand side of the ad, and reservations for the event are free. The reservation will allow the hosting parties to know how many attendees to prepare for. Additional information about the event can be obtained through the Greenup County Health Department or the Greenup County Extension Office. Let’s stay healthy together and work toward a healthier future by attending Dining with Diabetes 2026, a dinner with your future in mind.