If you or a loved one has been diagnosed as prediabetic or diabetic, you aren’t alone – it’s estimated that 98 million Americans are prediabetic, and another 38 million live with diabetes.
Diabetes can come with a host of complications if it’s not properly managed, including blindness, amputations, kidney failure, neuropathy, and wounds that won’t heal quickly. The good news is that while diabetes is a serious disease, it is manageable. Fairfield Medical Center offers a Diabetes Self-Management Education/Support program that can help patients manage their condition to be free of complications, regardless of whether they are newly diagnosed or have lived with diabetes for years. As Sharon Graff, FMC’s Diabetes Care & Education Specialist, likes to say, “Well-managed diabetes is the leading cause of nothing.”
Through the Diabetes Self-Management Education/Support program, FMC’s diabetes team tailors learning to the patient’s needs and circumstances. There’s no shame or guilt associated with the program – just information and motivation to help the patient make informed decisions that harmonize with their lifestyle and goals. All patients who wish to participate in the program start by meeting with a Registered Dietician/Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist. During this private consultation, the patient will learn facts and dispel myths about diabetes, discover what they’d like to know about managing their diabetes, and, depending on where they want to focus, can schedule additional private or group appointments.
Three classes will then follow, in which patients will acquire a deeper understanding of diabetes while learning about drugs, devices, diet, and lifestyle choices that can help manage it. Patients will also learn how to make the most of their visits with their physician.
Once the classes are completed, patients will be invited to participate in monthly, one-hour support group sessions that are free. During these fun, informal gatherings, they’ll have the opportunity to ask questions, share their story, and hear how others have navigated living with diabetes.
To participate in the Diabetes Self-Management Education/Support program, patients will need a referral from their provider to FMC’s Central Scheduling. Patients should also check with their insurance company regarding coverage. For more information on FMC’s diabetes services, call 740-687-8492 or visit fmchealth.org/services/diabetes-care/
This article originally appeared on Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: FMC: A path to successfully living with diabetes – what you should know
Reporting by Phil Settecase, Fairfield Medical Center / Lancaster Eagle-Gazette
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
