PRICE CHOPPER MARKET AREA GETS WISE TO DIABETES EDUCATION

MARYELLEN LO BOSCO

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. -- Price Chopper here has expanded its Eat Wise/Health Wise for Diabetes program this year into the Utica marketing area.

Eat Wise/Health Wise is a consumer education vehicle featuringstore tours and free educational and informational materials.

Price Chopper launched the program last year, after many consumer calls to the retailer's C.O.O.K.S. (Call on Our Kitchen Specialists) Hotline with questions about food labeling and how food relates to diabetes.

The tours are taking place throughout this month, which is American Diabetes Month. The program has been expanded to two Utica stores for a total of 14 units, according to Maureen Murphy, consumer services manager at Price Chopper. The chain expects to do a total of 17 tours by the end of the month.

Between 12 and 20 people take part in each of the tours, which are held at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m.

"People have said the tours are a great help, especially with label reading. Even for those who had a basic grasp [of the illness], the extra tips about living with diabetes and making it more manageable are very helpful," Murphy explained.

Tours are conducted by diabetes educators and dietitians and cover grocery and specialty departments, perishables and the pharmacy. Education focuses on fat and sugar, said Murphy, and on how to read labels.

Emphasis is also placed on the food pyramid and how it works for people with diabetes.

Tour participants receive coupons for grocery items courtesy of the American Diabetes Association and a Price Chopper brochure with information on food and labeling.