<![CDATA[Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic disease with rising global prevalence, including in Indonesia. In Dusun Banjar Tengah, Dau District, Malang, community health challenges include low nutritional knowledge, high consumption of sweet foods and beverages among adolescents and young adults, and increasing cases of overweight individuals, highlighting the need for effective diabetes prevention interventions. Purpose of the Study: This community service program aims to evaluate the impact of counseling and training on low-sugar food processing with lifestyle modification strategies in preventing diabetes mellitus among the community of Dusun Banjar Tengah. Methods: The program involved 31 community participants (mostly adolescents aged <20 years) over four months. Activities included initial health assessments, health screenings, blood sugar level evaluations, and structured counseling and training sessions led by clinical nutritionists. Participants engaged in practical demonstrations of preparing sugar-free herbal tea and high-fiber beverages. Effectiveness was measured using pretest and posttest questionnaires analyzed with paired t-test. Results: The program demonstrated a significant increase in participants' knowledge, with the average pretest score improving from 81.45 to 89.31 on the posttest, with a significance value of 0.016 (p < 0.05). Most participants (77%) had normal blood sugar levels. Participants showed high enthusiasm during practical sessions and expressed intentions to adopt low-sugar dietary practices. The program effectively improved the community's knowledge about diabetes prevention and promoted healthier lifestyle behaviors.]]>
