American Diabetic Association recognizes FAMHS diabetes education

• Diabetes • Sep 21, 05

Diabetes affects 17 million people in the United States according to Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson, who also said that the number of people with diabetes has risen eight percent according to the 2000 U.S. census.

Diabetes has no cure, but it can be controlled so that people with diabetes enjoy a healthy life.

Education and good medical care are the best ways to control diabetes. Most education programs focus on learning about the disease itself, as well as how to manage it.

The diabetes education program at Fort Atkinson Memorial Health Services recently received recognition from the American Diabetes Association (ADA) for its outpatient, self-management program.

“We are pleased to receive recognition status from the ADA. By going through the ADA recognition process, we assessed our education program and made the changes needed to meet ADA standards,” said Diabetes Program Coordinator Karen Davenport, a registered nurse at FAMHS. “We are confident that our diabetes education program can help people with diabetes successfully manage their disease.”

Because successful diabetes management relies on education, the ADA developed a set of standards to determine excellence in diabetes education. These standards provide healthcare organizations with a guideline in developing a quality program. The recognition requirements include the presence of an advisory board that yearly reviews the diabetes education program, a curriculum that covers 10 topics identified by the ADA as necessary for quality education, and evidence of qualified educators. A process that includes assessing the patients education needs was also needed, as well as the education process itself and follow-up to see if the education objectives are being met.

At FAMHS, certified diabetic educators Shirley Powell, FAMHS registered dietitian, and Davenport are joined by other professionals to provide group sessions. Individual education with the nurse and dietitian has been provided for several years.

Davenport said that group sessions are a very exciting way of presenting the education.
Participants benefit from each other’s questions and experience. The first group session is lengthened to provide time to assess each individual and determine their specific education needs. Individual sessions are still available when needed. A physician referral is necessary to participate in the education program.

For more information about the FAMHS diabetes self-management program, speak with your physician or contact the FAMHS Education Department at (920) 568-5246.

What is diabetes?
Diabetes mellitus is a disease that prevents your body from properly using the energy from the food you eat.

Diabetes occurs:
- When the pancreas (an organ behind your stomach) produces little insulin or no insulin at all.
- When the pancreas makes insulin, but the insulin made does not work as it should. This condition is called insulin resistance.

Insulin is a naturally occurring hormone that helps the body use glucose for energy. Without insulin, glucose (simple sugar broken down from food) cannot get into the body’s cells for use as energy. This increases the level of glucose in the blood.

What are the types of diabetes?
Type 1 diabetes
Occurs because the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas are damaged. People with type 1 diabetes produce little or no insulin, and they must use insulin injections to control their blood glucose. Type 1 is the most common form of diabetes in people less than 20 years old, but it can occur at any age.

Type 2 diabetes
Unlike people with type 1, people with type 2 diabetes produce insulin. However, the insulin produced is either not enough or doesn’t work properly in the body. Type 2 is most common in people over age 40 who are overweight. Some people with type 2 diabetes can manage it by controlling their weight, watching their diet and exercising regularly. Others may need to take an oral glucose-lowering medication or insulin injections.

Gestational diabetes
This type is discovered during pregnancy. As pregnancy progresses, the developing baby has an increased need for glucose. Hormone changes during pregnancy also affect the action of insulin, resulting in high blood glucose levels. Women who have an increased risk for gestational diabetes are those who are over 25 years old, have an above normal body weight, have a family history of diabetes and are Hispanic, African-American, Native American or Asian. Usually, blood sugar levels return to normal after childbirth. But women who have had gestational diabetes have an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life.

What are the symptoms of diabetes?
Type 1

Increased thirst

Increased hunger (especially after eating)

Dry mouth

Frequent urination

Unexplained weight loss

Fatigue

Blurred vision

Numbness or tingling of the hands or feet

Loss of consciousness (rare)

Type 2

Same as above