Diabetes nutrition education helps members achieve remarkable results

Jose has been struggling to control his Type 2 diabetes for over 20 years. Even with regular exercise and medications prescribed by his doctors, his symptoms were difficult to manage. New diabetes-related health issues were starting to develop and affect his day-to-day life. According to Jose^*, “something was missing from the equation.” That’s when he received an invitation to participate in the Banner|Aetna Kitchen. “Thanks to the amazing program, I have been able to recover my health,” he said.

Banner|Aetna Kitchen is designed for a small group of participants to learn kitchen and cooking skills under the guidance of a chef and a dietician. Unlike other diabetes nutrition education programs, which can be difficult to understand and apply, the program’s hands-on approach and “atmosphere of friendship” help inspire lasting lifestyle changes and improve health outcomes.

It made a big difference for Jose. “It sounds kind of cliché, but food is health and I wish I had learned it sooner,” he said.

Every other week over four months, participants gather for dinner parties and gardening days to learn skills for healthy living. During the event, a chef instructs members as they work to prepare a delicious, healthy meal. While they enjoy the food together, a dietician guides conversations about practical nutrition, home gardening and the benefits of regular physical activity to round out their diabetes nutrition education. At the end of each party, members take home all the ingredients for the recipe so they can practice at home, making it easier to establish new habits.

For Jose, the program has been life changing. “You’re going to laugh, but because of this program, I cut down my sugar intake and discovered how delicious and juicy a strawberry is naturally,” he explained. “It was so unbelievable. I was like a baby experiencing something for the first time, and I'm glad I didn't die before knowing such a revelation of life that I was totally missing because of the added sugar in my diet.” 

Overall, people who participate have achieved remarkable results. Participants have seen hemoglobin A1C drop by a point and have lost 5% of their body weight on average.

Banner|Aetna Kitchen continues to expand to serve more members in more locations throughout Arizona. In 2024, a companion program to Banner|Aetna Kitchen called Active Project will launch. It will build on what makes the kitchen program so successful—a foundation of community, open dialogue, and proactive health education. Members will be invited to the Active Project to engage in group activities that are practical to incorporate in everyday life, like walking, hiking, gardening and more. Both programs are part of the Banner|Aetna Ecosystem (The Eco), a new community model for health and wellness that leverages the power of peer support to positively affect health outcomes. The Eco also includes powerful offerings like a diabetes reversal program, the provider-led Care Advocate Team program for certain chronic conditions, and more.

Banner|Aetna Kitchen is just one of the ways Banner|Aetna is innovating health care. Members interested in learning more about diabetes nutrition education or hearing additional stories from program participants can visit our Diabetes Care Support Center.

For information about Banner|Aetna health insurance coverage, visit our Employer page.

*Illustrative example based on real Aetna Member experiences.