Support Groups

Diabetes Without Diet Culture

You are worthy of support that is free from shame, blame or restriction

Get curious with us:

  • What if a diagnosis of diabetes could be an opportunity to heal your relationship with food and your body? 

  • What if a diagnosis of diabetes doesn’t need to feel so scary?

  • What if you don’t have to figure this out on your own?

Diabetes Without Diet Culture is for people who:

  • Feel fearful about their diagnosis of diabetes or prediabetes

  • Want to move forward on their diabetes journey but are unsure how

  • Are overwhelmed with the amount of information available on this topic 

  • Want to nourish themselves without rules or restrictions

  • Have been looking for a safe environment to meet other folks dealing with similar challenges/ feel isolated in their experience managing a chronic disease

This is a live, virtual course for people living with type 2 diabetes or a diagnosis of prediabetes, or members of their support system (family members, caregivers or partners), who are looking to learn more about diabetes through a weight-inclusive, non-stigmatizing lens while also building community.

Meet Your Facilitator

Larissa Ens, RD, CDE

She/Her | Location: Edmonton, AB

  • Larissa has focused her work in the past 6 years on supporting those living with diabetes and is a Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE). She found this area of practice to be focused on weight and restriction and noted the negative impact this had for those she supported. This led her to learn more about concepts such as Health at Every Size and intuitive eating and she now practices through a weight-inclusive lens.

    Larissa helps those living with diabetes pursue a healthy relationship with food and their bodies, while managing the complexities that come alongside living with a chronic disease. Larissa has a special interest in type 1 diabetes and insulin pump therapy. She is incredibly grateful for the trust put in her by her clients, and the relationships she has the opportunity to form. Compassion is at the core of Larissa’s practice.

    When not working you can find Larissa exploring the trails of Millcreek Ravine with her partner, daughter, and dog or experimenting with new recipes in her kitchen.

Weekly Outline

Week One:

Why the classic approach doesn’t work

  • What is diabetes and prediabetes?

  • Dispel common myths around diagnosis and management

  • Begin the shift from fear to curiosity

Week Two:

What could this look like?

  • Explore how a non-restrictive approach supports long term health goals 

  • Moving away from all or nothing thinking

Week Three:

Nourishment without restriction

  • Understanding intuitive eating and diabetes

  • Strategies to support glucose stability

Week Four:

Building your self-care toolkit

  • Understand the role of sleep, stress, and movement

  • The foundational role of self-compassion

What’s Included:

  • Four 90 minute (live) virtual sessions

  • Reflection tools to support weekly content

  • Resources to deepen your learning of each topic

  • Chat access with facilitator

All sessions are led by Larissa Ens, Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator

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