On Dec. 20, 2006, the General Assembly of the United Nations passed a landmark resolution recognizing diabetes as a chronic, debilitating and costly disease. This silent epidemic claims as many lives worldwide annually as HIV/AIDS and malaria combined. Diabetes was the sixth-leading cause of death on United States death certificates in 2002, and contributed to 224,092 deaths in the nation.One in 20 deaths is attributable to diabetes. In 2007, the total estimated cost of diabetes in the U.S. was $174 billion in terms of direct medical expenditures and lost productivity. In Ohio the estimated cost of diabetes is $6 billion, including medical cost at $4 billion and indirect costs at $2 billion. Those at a higher risk of getting the disease are African Americans and Hispanic/Latinos, plus those individuals who are considered obese. Ohio State University Extension and the Ohio Diabetes Prevention & Control Program has formed a valuable and successful partnership, specifically a class for diabetics and their families. Dining with Diabetes is a locally conducted cooking/nutrition and diabetes self management tool for people with diabetes. This is an evidenced-based curriculum that provides: Nutrition information, disease information, recipe demonstration and network/social support for people with diabetes and their families. Dining with Diabetes classes will be scheduled in Richland County for 2011.