Diabetic Education Available at LRH
The statistics are sobering – nearly nine percent of adults in Dickinson County have diabetes, equaling approximately 1,450 people. Obesity is at epidemic proportions in the United States, and is a key indicator for a person’s likelihood to be diagnosed with diabetes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 27.2 percent of adults in Dickinson County are obese, classified with a body mass index (BMI) over 29.9. Lakes Regional Healthcare (LRH) was recently named an accredited diabetes education program by the American Association of Diabetes Educators. Lakes Regional Healthcare’s new Diabetic Education program helps those with diabetes manage their condition and reduce their risk of complications associated with poorly controlled blood sugar levels.
Diabetic Education is beneficial for anyone diagnosed with diabetes or pre-diabetes, and helps them with seven self-care behaviors:
1. Healthy eating
2. Being active
3. Monitoring and improving glucose levels
4. Taking medication
5. Problem solving
6. Reducing future health risks
7. Healthy coping
It is a program that takes a multi-disciplinary approach, including care from a dietitian, nurse, physician, pharmacist, and advisory board. The specialized curriculum addresses topics such as medication management, blood glucose control, meal planning, exercise, foot health, and heart health. The program consists of 10 hours of education in the first 12 months and two hours of follow-up education and consultation in the next years. LRH Registered Dietitian Beth Samuelson said, “Depending on the patient, the education is provided either individually or in a group setting. Educational sessions can last from 30 minutes to two hours.”
The education is provided at Lakes Regional Healthcare’s Outpatient Center by Samuelson and Lynn Hughes, LRH Registered Nurse, Certified in Diabetic Management. The education is covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and many insurance companies. Samuelson said, “We’ve been providing Medical Nutrition Therapy for over 10 years and Diabetic Education is the next level of therapy that will help our clients manage multiple aspects of their diabetes now in order to reduce health risks in the future.”
Those interested in more information about Diabetic Education are encouraged to talk to their local family physician or call Lakes Regional Healthcare at 712-336-8785.
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