Finding Community in Care: Inside ANHC’s Diabetes Group

February 2, 2026

Managing diabetes is about more than numbers and medications. It’s about navigating daily choices, understanding food labels, managing costs, coping with stress, and finding support along the way.

During Patient Recognition Week, we are highlighting the Diabetes Group at Anchorage Neighborhood Health Center (ANHC) as an example of how patients show up for themselves and for one another—asking questions, sharing experiences, and building confidence together.

The group meets monthly and brings patients together in a welcoming, peer-based setting focused on learning, sharing, and building practical skills for living well with diabetes. Sessions are interactive and grounded in real life, offering tools and strategies patients can use immediately.

Why the Diabetes Support Group Was Created

The Diabetes Group grew out of a shared need by both ANHC’s Clinical Pharmacist and Registered Dietitian. Through their individual and collaborative work with patients, it became clear that many people needed more time and space to talk through topics that don’t always fit into a standard appointment, such as:

• Finding reliable health information online

• Navigating grocery stores and eating out

• Managing costs while eating well

• Coping with the emotional weight of a chronic condition

At the same time, many patients were asking for a diabetes-focused support group. While ANHC offered a Diabetes Prevention Program, that program is designed for people at risk for diabetes and does not include those already diagnosed. The Diabetes Group was created to fill that gap and ensure patients living with diabetes had a space designed specifically for them.

The group is supported by both a Clinical Pharmacist and a Registered Dietitian, bringing together medication management, nutrition education, and practical lifestyle support in one setting. This team-based approach allows clinicians to plan together, coordinate care, and support patients more comprehensively.

A Look Inside a Recent Session

At a recent Diabetes Group session, patients participated in a hands-on grocery shopping simulation. Together, they practiced reading nutrition labels, identifying added sugars, and comparing products. The group also talked through cost-effective strategies, where to shop within a grocery store, and how small changes can add up over time.

Throughout the session, patients received guidance and coaching from ANHC’s Clinical Pharmacist Valerie Bixler, Registered Dietitian Tamara Deschaine, and two pharmacy interns, as well as encouragement from one another. The room was full of conversation, questions, and shared insights—a reminder that managing diabetes doesn’t have to happen alone.

FAQs 

Who can attend the Diabetes Group? 
The group is open to established ANHC patients living with diabetes. 

Is this a medical appointment or a billed visit? 
No. The Diabetes Group is a support and education group, not a medical visit. 

How often does the group meet? 
The group meets monthly. 

What topics are covered? 
Topics vary by session and are based on patient needs. They include grocery shopping, label reading, eating on a budget, coping with triggers, mindful eating, and more. 

Who leads the group? 
Sessions are supported by ANHC’s Clinical Pharmacist and Registered Dietitian, with an emphasis on peer discussion and shared learning. 

How do I join? 
Talk with your ANHC care team to learn more about upcoming sessions and how to participate. 

What to Expect from the Group

The Diabetes Group meets monthly and is open to established ANHC patients living with diabetes. Topics are selected based on patient needs, common questions raised during clinical care, and real-life challenges patients face every day.

Upcoming sessions include:

• Grocery shopping tips and strategies

• Understanding diabetes complications

• Coping with triggers

• Making favorite meals healthier

• Mindful eating

• Eating on a budget

• Interactive games like Diabetes Jeopardy

• A holiday celebration at the end of the year

By combining education, peer support, and practical tools, the Diabetes Group helps patients build confidence and skills for long-term self-management—together.

ANHC is grateful to the patients who participate in the Diabetes Group and help make it a supportive, welcoming space. Their openness, curiosity, and willingness to learn together are what make the group meaningful.

If you’re an ANHC patient living with diabetes and interested in joining, talk with your care team to learn more.