Did you know that the best way to manage diabetes is to learn how to eat healthy as a family?
That’s right, there is no difficult diabetes diet to follow, no specially made foods to purchase. It’s simply a matter of making a commitment to a healthy lifestyle and eating regular foods in proper proportions.
Are there children in your household? The Center for Disease Control says that one in three children born in 2000 are at risk for diabetes unless diet and lifestyles changes are made. A healthy diet and an active lifestyle from an early age can prevent or minimize the effects of type 2 diabetes.
Yes, you can manage your diabetes and teach non-diabetic members of your family how to avoid it or minimize their risk factors.
Risk Factors for Diabetes
- Family history
- Inactive lifestyle
- Improper balance of foods in the diet
Diabetes is a chronic, progressive disease that can be managed effectively in most cases. If you are ready to minimize the effects of diabetes, the team of professionals at Hocking Valley Community Hospital will help make it easier for you.
Nearly 21 million Americans have Diabetes. Are you one of them?
- Excessive urination
- Excessive thirst
- Unexpected weight loss
- Blurred vision
- Poor wound healing
If you have any of the above symptoms, are 45, overweight or have a family history of diabetes ask your physician to refer you for an assessment by our Certified Diabetes Educators.
If you are diagnosed with diabetes, we will guide you through self-management.
First, upon referral by your physician, you and your diabetes educator will conduct a personal diabetes assessment. You will then attend our classes comforted by the support of others with diabetes, enjoy a healthy lunch, and you will receive personal counseling and an individual plan for diabetes management, goal setting and follow-up.
During our class, you will receive up to date information from our two Certified Diabetes Educators, Denise Kiamy and Katy Kudlapur. Denise is a registered, licensed dietitian. Katy has a bachelor’s degree in nursing and is a registered nurse.
Personal sessions with our nurse and dietitian, both certified diabetes educators, will help shape and maintain your personal program.
At the beginning of our program, blood sugar levels average 205. By the end of the program, participants average 150. The goal of effective diabetes management is to maintain a consistent, healthy blood sugar range. You will learn how to measure blood sugar, how often and you will learn what to do when blood sugar levels are too high or too low.
Following our educational program and personal discussion about your particular goals, you will be prepared to build a lifestyle around effective diabetes management — the right amounts of the right foods, physical activity and adherence to a few basic principles.
The American Diabetes Association recognizes the educational program at Hocking Valley Community Hospital as meeting the national standards for diabetes self-management education. Learning to apply the techniques of effective diabetes self-management can help reduce the risk of heart disease, blindness, kidney disease, nerve damage and other serious complications.
For more information and a free brochure, call the Diabetes Self – Management Training Program of Hocking Valley Community Hospital at (740) 380-8242.