This week's speaker was introduced by Phyllis Rousseau. Jean Maslowski from the Cloquet Community Memorial Hospital's Diabetes Education Department wheeled in a cart with Thanksgiving dinner sample entrees made of plastic. 

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She explained that she teaches a class at the hospital for  pre-diabetic patients and these props are her teaching aids. Pre-diabetes currently affects 86 million American adults, or 1 out of 3 people. Nine out of 10 people with pre-diabetes don't even know they have it. Could it be you? Pre-diabetes is when your blood sugar level is higher than normal but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as Type 2 diabetes. If you have pre-diabetes, you need to lose weight by eating healthy and being more active. So, for Thanksgiving dinner remember these tips. Don't skip breakfast or lunch before eating Thanksgiving dinner. Fill half your plate with vegetables and have smaller portions of everything else. Choose pumpkin pie for dessert since it is healthier than other choices. Most Americans consume 5,000 calories on Thanksgiving Day, so go easy, enjoy your food slowly and exercise after dinner. 

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!