Tour of duty: Hilary Hoevenaars with healthy produce.
By Michelle Herbison
BELLARINE Peninsula residents are learning about healthy eating while they shop to treat and prevent diabetes.
Bellarine Community Health dietician Hilary Hoevenaars said she had noted a recent increase in non-diabetic attendees to her tours around Drysdale and Ocean Grove supermarkets.
More people were attending the tours to try curbing their risk of developing type-two diabetes early, she said.
Diabetes Victoria statistics show the Geelong region is a diabetes hotspot, with more than 11,000 people diagnosed as suffering type one or two diabetes last year.
Ms Hoevenaars said medical professionals were focussing on preventative methods to treat the epidemic.
Participants to the 90-minute supermarket tours learnt to read labels and compare food choices.
Knowing how key foods like breads, biscuits and cheeses impacted blood sugars and weight control was essential for diabetes sufferers, Ms Hoevenaars said.
“Lots of information on labels can be confusing for the public. Advertising is very strong and is designed to sell products, which it does well.
“Everybody learns and is very impressed by the tour. They change their shopping patterns as a result.”
Ms Hoevenaars said a similar “kids’ snacks” tour was also successful.
