We talk about diabetes a lot… and we should. Over 26 million people in the U.S. (that’s 8% of the population!) have diabetes – and another 79 million have pre-diabetes. The most common type is type 2 diabetes – the form of diabetes where either the pancreas stops making enough insulin or the body becomes resistant to the insulin.
If you have type 2 diabetes, consider attending our monthly MJH Diabetes Self-Management Classes. There are 3-part series taught on Tuesday mornings (10:00-12:00 AM) and Thursday evenings (6:00-8:00 PM) and a 1-day program either on Tuesdays or Saturdays. These are great programs full of self-care information – how and when to use a meter, the best type of socks to wear, exercise suggestions, and meal planning tips. To register for an upcoming session, call (434) 654-7009.
Have a Diabetes Health Care Team on your side. Your primary care doctor is key but can only help if you keep up your appointments as suggested. A diabetes-specialist doc (endocrinologist) may be important for your care also. Two other key diabetes team members include a podiatrist for your foot care and an eye doctor. Diabetes is one of the leading causes of blindness!
A Diabetes Nurse Educator can help you learn about the care of your eyes, feet and kidneys, as well as provide glucose meter training. A Registered Dietitian who specializes in diabetes (like me!) can help you figure out how to eat well to control glucose levels and will take into consideration your lifestyle, work schedule, food budget, and food preferences.
Remember, YOU are in charge of your diabetes. You want to figure out how to control your glucose to reduce these complications. So learn all that you can and see your Diabetes Team members when it is recommended.
