According to a report from the American Diabetes Association, 9.7% of Washington’s adult population has diagnosed diabetes. This number doesn’t even include those who have diabetes and don’t know it and those who have prediabetes. There are a lot of questions around diabetes, so we want to highlight a program that works to address this issue in a very realistic and practical way.

At SRHD, we recognize that one of the best ways we can impact people at risk for diabetes is through nutritional education and support. Our Women, Infant, and Children Nutrition Program (WIC) is here to help. The WIC program helps income qualified, pregnant and new mothers and families with children under age 5 have access to healthy food and nutrition education.

WIC staff members work with families to figure out ways to eat healthy that fit into their life and routine. Understanding meal plans, meal and snack timing, food portions and foods to avoid to help maintain healthy blood sugar levels are a few examples of simple ways they help families lessen risks for diabetes. WIC helps families maintain healthy blood sugar levels to lessen the risk of diabetes through meal plans, timing of meals and snacks and healthy food choices. The WIC fruit and vegetable cash value benefit has been temporarily increased through December.

Some pregnant women may develop a form of diabetes, called gestational diabetes. Our WIC Registered Dietitian Nutritionists counsel our participants with gestational diabetes and work with them to stay healthy throughout their pregnancy. Also, the regular WIC food package for pregnant women provides foods that are appropriate for gestational diabetes.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, WIC is continuing to provide benefits via telephone for qualified women, infants and children. Appointments for new and existing participants are available at all WIC clinics. Call 509.324.1620 to find out if you qualify for WIC and how WIC can help you. You can also learn more about WIC by visiting SRHD’s website.