A group of African American women with diabetes in Orlando are loosing weight and learning how to handle their disease thanks to a few good women. 'Eight Weeks to Wellness' is a class, funded by a grant from the Florida Department of Health, that teaches diabetics and people at risk for the disease how to handle or prevent it.  

Roniece Weaver, Fabiola Gaines and Ellareetha Carson--author of The New Soul Food Cookbook for People with Diabetes--sought to offer free or lowcost diet and lifestyle education to diabetics. The women target churches, community centers and clubs to enlist people in their classes, which mainly consists of retired Black women.  

According to an Orlando Sentinel article, the African American women enlisted in 'Eight Weeks' feel comfortable with the class instructors, who are all AA women, and are loosing weight and gaining self-confidence.