Sweet Success with diabetes a learn and laugh with Mrs. Pudding

The Mohawk Council of Akwesasne’s Community Health Program is organizing a dinner theatre to be held tonight at the St. Regis Recreation Centre beginning at 5:00pm. The Community Health Program invites the Akwesasne community to welcome Sue Schaefer a Diabetes Nurse Educator as she performs as her alter ego ‘Mrs. Pudding.’ Mrs. Pudding proves that diabetes is no laughing matter, unless you are her – her hilarious comedy is meant to motive diabetics to take control over their health.

“I first heard of Mrs. Pudding back in 2007 while taking a Diabetes Prevention course,” said Community Food Educator Sweets Jacobs. “When we heard that she would be in Ottawa we decided to bring her here to Akwesasne.”

Schaefer (AKA Mrs. Pudding) works with the Aboriginal Health Team for the Vancouver Island Health Authority and is going to also be performing her routine as part of a training exercise for Health Canada’s Aboriginal Diabetes Initiative. Mrs. Pudding is an eccentric, grandmotherly woman who loves to eat, hates to exercise and is initially shocked to learn that she had diabetes. Mrs. Pudding doesn’t think it is fair that she has diabetes but gradually learns she has the skills and power to control her illness and improve her health.

“What so enticed us by her routine was how it connected so well with our community,” said Jacobs.

Mrs. Pudding makes everyone laugh as she drives home the HEAL (Healthy Eating, Active Living) message. She had recently developed a new skit called, “positively stressing out,” which helps people with diabetes learn to deal with all the stresses we all face in addition to the ones particular to diabetes.

“She’s hilarious,” said Community Health Promoter Pam Pembleton. “We want people to come out because she talks about real issues that people have with diabetes.”

This educational ‘laugh and learn’ performance will begin at 6:00pm with both the dinner and theatre portion being open to the entire community of Akwesasne. The dinner will be provided by Patina, and they have space for 100 attendees to this exciting evening of entertainment. Anyone can call ahead of time to reserve a seat, but registration is not required. For more information on this performance contact the Community Health Program at 613-575-2341 ext. 3233 or ext. 3232.