Local seniors spent their morning learning how best to balance nutrition and eating patterns in a course taught in Jim Thorpe on Friday.

The Diabetes Self-Management Course offered by Geisinger Health at the Penn Kidder Senior Center in Jim Thorpe discussed tips for getting proper nutrition with diabetes, as well as how to deal with the difficulties diabetes can bring emotionally and how best to deal with the social problems incurred by diabetes.Participants began by listing off progress and accomplishments they made in the previous week on plans they made to get more active or to fine-tune their diets to their medical needs.Afterward, the participants paired off to talk about how diabetes can cause problems in nonmedical ways. Participants seemed to agree that dietary restrictions can cause frustration, especially in social situations where they may not be able to join family or friends with a drink or food item.Class leaders said there is no such thing as a "diabetes diet."Participants then discussed healthy ways to combat stress, such as exercise, venting to friends and reaching out to other diabetics to seek advice.Other activities at the meeting included reviewing how to read nutritional labels to judge whether a food item is the best choice for a diabetic.Class leaders discussed the various types of fats and carbohydrates found in food, as well as which ones to look for, which ones to avoid and how much of each a diabetic should eat in the average day.Sara Miraglia has helped lead the class since January and says Geisinger is putting more effort into the program as it grows more successful.Miraglia says the biggest focus of the program is to get participants to help one another."The main point of this program is self-management. As lay leaders we have to take sort of a back seat role. It's more up to the class to gain what they learn and then to apply it."Miraglia says one of the best things she's seen in participants is how they work to help one another get as much as possible from the program.At one point, when a participant raised a question about a suspicious spike in blood sugar, another participant offered an explanation about such a pattern they received from their physician."When they were helping each other, that is such a big part of this program because it's self management, but also how to get help from others," said Miraglia."When they can come together and help each other out, that is key."In the past the class has covered topics such as physical activity, stress management, medication and decision making.