Tara Schmidt, M.Ed., RDN, LD
Thriving with Type 2 Diabetes, by Mayo Clinic
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- £179.00
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- £179.00
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Take control of your health and manage type 2 diabetes with confidence.
Whether you’ve recently been diagnosed with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes, or you’re looking to improve your current management, this evidence-based programme in collaboration with Mayo Clinic, gives you the knowledge and practical tools to make meaningful, lasting changes.
Type 2 diabetes is not a life sentence. For many people, it is a condition that can be improved and, in some cases, put into remission. This course is built on the understanding that education empowers people to act. When individuals understand what is happening in their bodies and why certain changes matter, they are more likely to make meaningful, lasting changes that can transform their health and quality of life.
Led by Tara Schmidt, M.Ed., RDN, LD, a registered dietitian at Mayo Clinic, you’ll learn how food affects your blood sugar, discover which choices support your health across all food groups, and master the diabetes plate method for building balanced meals your whole family can enjoy. You’ll understand how exercise improves insulin sensitivity, explore research-backed weight management strategies, and learn how to dine out while maintaining steady blood sugar control.
Through clear guidance and real patient experiences, you’ll build confidence in managing your condition and may even reduce or eliminate your need for medication over time. The programme covers essential foundations including carbohydrate awareness, building a supportive environment, and preventing long-term complications.
This course meets you exactly where you are and equips you with sustainable strategies for living well with diabetes. Your health deserves this investment, and we’ll show you how to make changes that truly last.
Lessons
What You’ll Learn
Explore the lessons and topics covered across the course.
Begin your journey by understanding how personalised health insights can empower you to make meaningful, lasting changes. In this introduction, you'll meet the clinical experts behind the programme and discover how digital tools can help support your goals. You'll hear why conditions like prediabetes and type 2 diabetes can feel silent yet carry long-term risks—and how evidence-based guidance from Mayo Clinic specialists can help you take action before complications arise.
Come to terms with your prediabetes or type 2 diabetes diagnosis whilst learning what you can control. This module explains the crucial difference between prediabetes and type 2 diabetes, demystifying terms like blood glucose, insulin, and HbA1c. Through moving personal stories, you'll understand that whilst a diagnosis can feel overwhelming, many lifestyle factors are within your power to change. Learn about modifiable risk factors including diet, exercise, and weight, and discover how even small changes can prevent progression to type 2 diabetes or potentially put it into remission. You'll understand the importance of monitoring your blood sugar and taking prescribed medications, whilst recognising that with the right tools and support, you can genuinely improve your health and reduce your risk of complications.
Demystify carbohydrates and learn how to manage them effectively for better blood sugar control. This module explores the three types of carbohydrates,starches, dietary fibre, and sugars,explaining which foods contain them and how they affect your body differently. You'll discover that carbohydrates aren't the enemy; rather, it's about understanding portions, frequency, and choosing complex carbohydrates with fibre over ultra-processed options. Learn why sugary beverages should be avoided whilst whole fruits, starchy vegetables, and whole grains can be part of a healthy diet. Through practical food diary exercises, you'll identify which of your current choices support your health and which might need adjusting. This knowledge empowers you to make informed decisions whilst still enjoying a varied, satisfying diet.
Gain comprehensive knowledge of all six food groups and learn to make the healthiest choices from each. This module provides detailed guidance on fruits, non-starchy vegetables (which you can eat unlimited amounts of!), proteins, whole grains, dairy, and fats. You'll understand why fish and seafood should feature at least three times weekly, how to select lean protein sources, and why unsaturated fats are preferable to saturated and trans fats. Learn the difference between foods that provide nutrition versus those that offer mainly empty calories. Through reflective exercises comparing your current favourites with healthier alternatives, you'll discover practical ways to adapt portions, frequency, or preparation methods. This module empowers you to make choices that support your blood sugar management without feeling restricted.
Discover exercise's powerful impact on blood sugar management and insulin sensitivity. This module explains how physical activity helps transfer glucose from your blood into your cells, making insulin work more efficiently. You'll learn that even light activities like walking or gardening improve blood sugar levels, whilst understanding the national guideline of 150 minutes weekly moderate exercise. Through inspiring real-life transformations and expert insights on exercise as disease prevention, you'll find motivation to start where you are,even if that's just five minutes daily. Learn about NEAT (non-exercise activity thermogenesis) and how small movements throughout your day contribute to better health. With practical advice on overcoming barriers and finding activities you enjoy, you'll build confidence that exercise is achievable and essential for your diabetes management.
Master the diabetes plate method for perfectly balanced meals that support stable blood sugar. This module teaches you to divide your plate into sections,50% non-starchy vegetables, 25% lean protein, and 25% whole grains or starchy vegetables,creating meals the whole family can enjoy. You'll understand the crucial concept of carbohydrate consistency, learning why eating similar amounts of carbohydrates at each meal prevents peaks and valleys in blood sugar. Discover how combining fibre, protein, and healthy fats slows carbohydrate digestion, reducing glucose spikes. Learn practical strategies like eating vegetables first to slow digestion further, and understand why three meals 4-5 hours apart is preferable to constant grazing. This module transforms abstract nutrition advice into a simple visual framework you can use every day.
Understand the powerful connection between weight management and diabetes control. This module explains how even 5-10% weight loss can improve insulin sensitivity and potentially reduce medication needs. You'll learn that sustainable weight loss isn't about restrictive diets but about identifying and eliminating empty calories,those 300 calories daily from biscuits or fizzy drinks that add up over time. Discover the science behind self-monitoring as a predictor of success, learning how to track habits in ways that increase awareness without bringing shame. Through practical guidance on identifying eating triggers and behaviour chains, you'll understand what drives your food choices and how to make changes. Real patient stories illustrate that progress isn't linear, but persistence and knowledge are what lead to lasting transformation.
Learn to navigate restaurants, takeaways, and social eating whilst maintaining blood sugar control. This module introduces the FORK method,Frequency, Order, Request, and Know,giving you a practical framework for eating away from home. You'll discover how to decode menu descriptions, identify healthier preparation methods, and make requests for substitutions that improve your meal's nutritional profile. Learn strategies for pre-eating to avoid arriving starving, looking up menus in advance, and practising mindful eating even with takeaway. Understand how to balance special occasions with your health goals, adapting portions and making smart choices without feeling deprived. With techniques for managing social pressure and communicating your needs, you'll gain confidence to enjoy restaurants and celebrations whilst prioritising your health.
Discover the importance of support in managing diabetes and learn how to build your team. This module helps you identify what type of support works best for you,emotional, practical, or inspiring,and how to communicate your needs to others. You'll learn techniques like the "boundary sandwich" for setting limits whilst maintaining relationships, and understand how to involve family, friends, coworkers, and healthcare professionals in your journey. Through moving personal accounts, you'll see how others have navigated diagnosis, workplace challenges, and social situations. Learn why it's essential for employers to know about your diabetes, especially if taking insulin, and discover the value of connecting with others who share your condition. This final module emphasises that whilst lifestyle changes require effort, you don't have to face them alone,and that seeking support is a sign of strength, not weakness.
Learning options
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Expert
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A guided learning experience with expert support, feedback and recognised outcomes.
Peer
£95.00
Learn alongside others with a collaborative, flexible learning experience.
COURSE TUTOR
Tara Schmidt, M.Ed., RDN, LD
SUCCESS
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Common Questions
Answers to the most common questions about learning with us.
Our online classroom is designed to help you learn from experts in a collaborative, social environment alongside a small group of learners.
Each lesson combines expert-led videos with optional assignments, giving you the opportunity to apply what you’ve learned and share your work with others. You can take part in ongoing discussions, ask questions, exchange feedback, and learn from a community of like-minded people from around the world.
By learning together in a small, supportive group, you benefit not only from expert guidance but also from shared ideas, perspectives, and experiences—helping you stay engaged and retain what you learn.
You can start your course at any time within 12 months of purchase. Once you begin, you’ll have lifetime access, so you can revisit lesson videos and notes whenever you like.
Courses are designed to fit around your schedule, allowing you to learn at your own pace. Each lesson video is typically 30–40 minutes, and we recommend around an hour for each assignment.
Both Peer and Expert options give you full access to the course content, including lesson videos, downloadable notes, assignments, and a collaborative online classroom with up to 20 learners. You’ll also have lifetime access to revisit the material at any time.
The Expert option includes everything in Peer, plus personalised assignment feedback, direct messaging with your expert tutor, and a certificate of completion.
With the Expert option, you can interact directly with your tutor throughout the course. You’ll typically have one week per lesson to ask questions and receive feedback on your assignments, with as much interaction as you need during that time.
Your tutor access begins when you enter the classroom and follows the course schedule (for example, a four-lesson course usually runs over four weeks). If you need more time or support, our team is here to help.
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