Vim & Vigor - Winter 2016 - Community Healthcare - 19
THE FIRST WEEK
First, the basics: Insulin is a hormone
produced in the pancreas that helps
your body use the glucose (sugar) you
take in through food. When you have
Type 2 diabetes, your body either
doesn't make enough insulin or doesn't
use it well. When your body's cells
aren't able to use the glucose for energy,
it stays in the blood, raising blood glucose levels, which can cause serious
complications. What to do?
EDUCATE YOURSELF. The first step
is to seek out diabetes education, says
Andrew Rhinehart, MD, author of I Have
Diabetes!! Now What? (2009).
Diabetes is different from a lot of conditions. It's not as simple as taking a pill
every day, Rhinehart says. "With diabetes, you have to worry about what to eat,
exercise, medications, injections ... It
goes on and on. It's incredibly complex."
The ADA and the American
Association of Diabetes Educators
(AADE) are helpful resources.
"If people walk into a recognized
or accredited program, they are going
to learn everything they need to learn
about diabetes," AADE spokeswoman
Joanne Rinker says.
BUILD A CARE TEAM. Rhinehart
advises surrounding yourself with a
team that includes a diabetes educator,
a primary care doctor, a dietitian and a
pharmacist. At some point, you may also
need an eye doctor, an endocrinologist,
a podiatrist or other specialists, in case
you face any complications.
FIND SUPPORT. It's hugely helpful
to have supportive loved ones, but going
beyond your personal network can be
beneficial, too. Look into community
support groups, where you can continue
your education and build relationships
with other people who have diabetes.
THE FIRST MONTH
You've started to build your team, and
you're more knowledgeable about the
disease. What's next?
SET GOALS. When you receive your
diabetes diagnosis, your doctor will talk
to you about your blood sugar levels.
Working with your doctor or educator,
you'll probably set some long-term and
short-term goals for how you'll bring
these numbers into a healthy range.
START AN EXERCISE PROGRAM.
"Exercise is free medicine," Rinker says.
"Every time you do it, you are working to decrease your blood sugar at that
moment-as well as for hours after
you've completed the exercise."
Your diabetes educator can help you
establish a plan that works for you. But
rest assured, you don't need to become a
gym rat. Regular walking is a great start.
GET YOUR FAMILY ON BOARD.
Most likely, your daily meal plan will
change. Talk to your family about those
changes and why they matter. What's
helpful is that a diabetes diet is simply
eating healthy foods, Rhinehart says.
So the whole family can eat your diet-
and everyone benefits.
THE FIRST YEAR
You'll start to adapt to your health
changes and-if all goes to plan-
feel better.
CHECK IN REGULARLY. Experts
recommend getting your blood sugar
levels checked and seeing your doctor
every three months in the fi rst year.
As you do, your doctor may modify
your medication regimen.
"If you're working hard with your
team ... there's no reason you can't
reach the majority of your goals within
a year," Rhinehart says.
ESTABLISH CALM AND CONTROL.
The good news? "You'll likely feel
better-and more in control-by the
end of the first year," Rhinehart says.
"The sense of being overwhelmed
will go away," he says. "You will be able
to manage this." ■
A TEAM
APPROACH
TO DIABETES
At the hospitals of
Community Healthcare System,
the first message you will hear after
you are diagnosed with diabetes is
simple: Diabetes does not have to
control you. You can control it.
Dealing with your diagnosis starts
with education about how to manage diabetes every step of the way.
Education can begin at the onset
of a hospital stay or in an outpatient setting.
"We talk about essential lifestyle
changes to get sugar levels under
control," says Clinical Specialist
Virginia Ait Said, RN. She's based
at St. Catherine Hospital, recipient
of the Joint Commission Gold Seal
of Approval in 2016 for Inpatient
Diabetes Care.
Patients benefit from the help of a
care team, which may include nurses,
doctors, dietitians, pharmacists, endocrinologists, podiatrists and educators.
This team of experts creates a plan
tailored to each patient to teach selfcare behaviors and reduce the risk of
diabetes complications.
CALL
Take Control
We offer diabetes education
and management through
our Centers for Diabetes.
Call 219-836-7714 (Munster),
219-392-7786 (East Chicago)
or 219-947-6234 (Hobart).
WIN TE R 2016
19
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