If you have been diagnosed with diabetes or someone in your family has diabetes, do you have all the information you need to successfully manage the condition?
Probably not, says Nancy Liu, a Washington Health clinical dietitian working with people who have diabetes. Managing diabetes is challenging and often discouraging. Diabetes patients need all the support they can get, Liu admits. Fortunately, Washington Health provides ongoing comprehensive diabetes educational and support programs for diabetes patients, their families and friends.
“Even the most attentive and careful patients find they have questions they never thought of before actually managing their own treatment,” Lui points out. “I often hear patients say they are gaining valuable advice on managing their diabetes from other patients in the support group.”
Knowledge is power. “Support group participants continually tell me how much they’ve learned from the others in the room. Sharing tips, information, recipes, and ideas for how to manage their lives has made a huge impact,” says Liu.
Liu continues, “People come into the group thinking they’ve already learned most of what they need to know, but they find they can learn more from others with similar experiences. Participants tell me the support they gain from others in the program has made a difference in how they manage their condition.”
The programs offered by Washington Health’s Outpatient Diabetes Center meet the national standards established by the American Diabetes Association for self-management and support.
They include:
Diabetes Matters: This free monthly program features expert speakers providing science-based information about the disease and how to manage it. Speakers include a range of physicians and health care providers specializing in diabetes including endocrinologists, ophthalmologists, podiatrists, nephrologists and nurse specialists.
Open to the public, friends and family members of patients with diabetes are encouraged to attend. Diabetes Matters meets from 6 to 7 p.m. on the first Monday of each month (the first Tuesday when Monday is a holiday) in the Conrad E. Anderson, MD Auditorium, Washington West, 2500 Mowry Ave., Fremont.
Diabetes Support Group: The Diabetes Support Group meets on the first Monday of each month (the first Tuesday when Monday is a holiday) immediately following Diabetes Matters in the same location. Open to all persons living with diabetes, including family members and friends of diabetes patients, it allows participants to have in-depth conversations about what is happening in their lives and to share information about dealing with diabetes.
Diabetes BASICS: Diabetes Basics offers diabetes self-management training for individual patients who work with a program nurse. The program requires a physician referral and is offered for up to a total of 10 hours, depending on the health insurance of individual participants.
Sweet Success: This program offers information and support for women with diabetes who wish to become pregnant, as well as pregnant women who have gestational diabetes. It focuses on managing the disease and being aware of symptoms that might be troublesome. Participants meet with a registered nurse and a registered dietician, as well as a behavioral specialist as needed. The program goal is to teach participants how to quickly control diabetes to minimize the risk for pregnancy complications associated with uncontrolled diabetes. Sweet Success requires a physician referral for participation.
Medical Nutrition Therapy: This program, which requires a physician referral, offers intense and focused nutrition therapy services that rely on follow-up and feedback to change behavior over time. This includes assisting patients with special dietary needs (such as low fiber or gluten-free diets) find the best way to develop their daily eating habits. Medical Nutrition Therapy is highly effective in optimizing glucose control and achieving long-lasting results.
The incidence of diabetes is increasing each year. In Alameda County, more than 89,000 persons – about 8 to 9% of the local population – are being treated for diabetes. In the Fremont area, particularly affected populations include Indian and Chinese residents, middle-aged and older residents (45 years plus), severely overweight individuals and others with a predisposition to diabetes.
“Information sharing and group support are key elements of successful diabetes management,” Liu emphasizes. “Take advantage of the community support available. Come and listen. Learn and find support for the issues you worry about.”
For additional information about Washington Health’s Diabetes Support Program, call 510.818.6465 or email at diabetessuccess@washingtonhealth.com.