Creating a Community-Based Diabetes Self-Management Program

  I am involved in creating a community-based diabetes self-manage- ment program operated by diabetics for diabetics. I am asking for your ideas on what to include in a beginning six-hour kickoff to be followed up by a weekly 60-90 minute meeting throughout the year. This is a format similar to a popular weight reduction program and numerous twelve-step programs. The purpose is to provide strategies, tips and other supports that we can give each other. One rule is the one of the two co-facilitators must be a highly-experienced, well-managed diabetic; the other can be a person who brings other skills or expertise to the program. This is a "dream out-loud" program, so give my your best ideas as what we could/should include and what we must avoid. I'd like this to be a portable program that can be operated out of a church basement or any generally-accessible public place. Wanna weigh-in?