CUMBERLAND — Allegany and Garrett residents can learn new ways of managing diabetes and weight.

“This is a meal planning system that they will want to use the rest of their lives — it’s not a fad diet,” said Dr. Jennifer Thorn Bentlejewski, a registered dietitian of the University of Maryland Cooperative Extension.

Bentlejewski will hold free diabetes and weight loss seminars this summer. Allegany County residents may attend the seminar at Allegany College of Maryland on July 11 and Aug. 1, and Garrett County residents may attend the seminar at Southern Garrett Rescue Squad on July 12 and Aug. 2.

“These seminars are not just for people with diabetes — weight loss is the main emphasis,” said Bentlejewski. “Obesity increases a person’s chance of developing type II diabetes, which is the most common type of diabetes.”

Portion control, carbohydrate counting, food labels, artificial sweeteners, fat, cholesterol and dining out will be discussed at the seminars.

“These classes will be highly interactive — people will not be bored, and they will receive a lot of free materials,” said Bentlejewski. “The main thing I want people to take away from this is being able to make good choices in this toxic food environment we live in.”

“The seminars are open to everybody and they’re free,” said Terry Beachy, coordinator of Garrett College’s Northern Outreach Center.

To register for the Garrett County seminars, contact Beachy at (301) 895-4700 or tbeachy@garrettcollege.edu. To register for the Allegany County seminars, contact ACM at (301) 784-5341.

Jennifer Raley can be reached at jraley@times-news.com.