Virginians with diabetes make strides through Virginia Cooperative Extension program
Balanced Living with Diabetes helps participants take control of their health through nutrition, exercise, and goal setting.
When Audrey Hall’s doctor told her she was prediabetic, she didn’t think much of it — until she learned what was at stake.
“I didn’t take it seriously,” Hall said. “I didn’t know people could lose limbs or have to inject insulin just to manage this.”
That changed after she joined Balanced Living with Diabetes, a six-week program offered by Virginia Cooperative Extension. The program combines science-based health education with practical support to help participants learn to control their blood sugar and reduce their risk of health complications from Type 2 diabetes.
Hall is one of more than 1,400 Virginians whose lives have been changed by the program. Within weeks, she had cut sweets, added daily exercise, and lowered her A1c — a key measure of average blood sugar.
“The program helped me understand my prediabetes and inspired me to make real changes,” she said. “I’ve lost weight and I feel more energetic.”
1 in 3 Virginians are at risk of diabetes
An estimated 33 percent of Virginians are in some stage of diabetes, with only 12 percent having a confirmed diagnosis. Nationwide, the disease affects more than 38 million Americans, according to the Virginia Department of Health.
Virginia Cooperative Extension is responding to this public health challenge by teaching people to take control of their health before complications arise. Through Balanced Living with Diabetes and other chronic disease prevention and management programs, Extension empowers Virginians to build healthier habits that reduce risk and improve quality of life.
Developed in 2008 by Kathy Hosig, Extension initiative leader for health and well-being at Virginia Tech, Balanced Living with Diabetes was modeled after a similar program from West Virginia Extension Service and was designed to meet the needs of rural communities across the commonwealth.
Intended for individuals living with Type 2 diabetes and the people who support them, the program teaches participants how to:
- Manage carbohydrate intake through dietary guidance
- Stay active with guided movement and free tools
- Understand how medications help control blood sugar
- Set and track goals to build confidence
- Engage in a supportive, interactive environment
About one-third of participants improve their blood sugar control to recommended levels by the end of the program.
Hands-on, real-life learning
Participants learn to read food labels, plan balanced meals using the Plate Method - a widely used system that helps diabetics manage nutrition and portion size, and track their progress over time.
Crystal Wynn, an Extension program leader at Virginia State University, has taught the program since its early days.
“It’s especially important for underserved populations and rural areas,” Wynn said. “For many, it’s their first formal education on managing diabetes.”
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.
For Katrina Kirby, an Extension agent in Petersburg, the best part of leading the program for over 13 years is seeing participants leave not just healthier — but more hopeful.
“We give people the tools and support to take back their health,” Kirby said. “By the end of the program, they know they can make real, lasting changes. Diabetes is not a death sentence.”
Hall, who completed the Balanced Living with Diabetes program in Petersburg last winter, has kept the habits she built and seen real changes.
“It's allowed me to keep up with my great-granddaughters, and the numbers to prove it’s working,” she said. “My doctor’s going to be ecstatic.”
Learn more about available Extension Diabetes Programs or contact your local Extension office to find out if it offers a Balanced Living with Diabetes program.
