Kent County Commissioner Candace Chivis shops the Southeast Area Farmers’ Market for the fresh produce she uses as one strategy to maintain a healthy blood sugar level.

In Michigan, 758,000 adults live with diabetes. An additional 250,000 have it and do not even know it. Do you worry that you or someone you love may be among these numbers? Come to the Southeast Area Farmers’ Market for free diabetes screening!

• 3 – 7 p.m. Friday Sept. 27, Garfield Park, Madison and Burton SE.
• 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday Sept. 28, Gerald R Ford School, Madison and Franklin SE.

Practitioners from Community Advancement will be providing this service to our market community. This local organization reaches out to area residents living in underserved communities who are at risk for diabetes, recently diagnosed with diabetes, living with diabetes or have family members with diabetes.

If you are worried about diabetes, you have another good reason to visit the farmers’ market. Fresh produce! Did you know?

• The fiber in fresh vegetables slows the release of sugar into the bloodstream so your body uses less insulin.
• Fresh fruits and vegetables also contain complex carbohydrates that do not cause as sharp of a rise in blood sugar since they digest much more slowly.
• Most fresh vegetables are low in sugar.
• Eating raw fruits and vegetables fills you up with more fiber and nutrients so you do not get hungry again as quickly.

The following vegetables are your best, low-glycemic choices: Asparagus, butter beans, black beans, garbanzo beans, green beans, navy beans, black eyed peas, broccoli, celery, cucumber, lettuces, onions, peppers, spinach, sweet potatoes, tomatoes and zucchini.