Muncie Times, Muncie, Delaware County, 6 May 2010 — Page 6

Page 6 • The Muncie Times • May 6, 2010

Continued from page 1 referred to as juvenileonset diabetes, where there is no insulin being produced in the body. Diabetes Type II is usually adult onset and is characterized by insulin resistance or insulin deficiency. Diabetes can cause many complications, if blood glucose levels are left elevated. The chronic complications of diabetes are heart disease, kidney disease, numbness and tingling in fingers and toes, amputation and vision problems. It is important to work closely with your medical team to determine the best treatment. Tweaking your lifestyle could be a big step towards prevention, even if you are already diabetic; it’s never too late to start. Diabetes prevention can be as basic as losing extra weight and eating healthier. The American Diabetes Association lists five prevention tips: • Get more physical activity: physical activity lowers blood sugar and boosts your sensitivity to insulin, which helps keep your blood sugar within normal range. Research shows that both aerobic and resistance training can help control diabetes, but the greatest benefits come from a fitness program that includes both. • Get plenty of fiber: fiber reduces your risk of diabetes by improving your blood sugar control. • Go for whole grains: whole grains reduce your risk of diabetes by controlling your blood sugar

levels. ioral health specialist and • Lose extra weight: a medication assistance every pound you lose can program. improve your diabetes and We are also an enrollhealth in general. ment site for Medicaid, • Skip fad diets: by HIP, Cardinal Access, and excluding or strictly limit- food stamps. The medical ing a particular food team is dedicated to assist group,, you may be giving the patients based on their up essential nutrients, needs, so that the patients Instead, think variety and can make informed deciportion control as part of sions on their care of diaan overall healthy eating betes. Open Door Health plan. Services offers a sliding Diabetes can be devas- fee scale based on income tating physically, mentally for medical visits and utiand financially, lizes the medication assisOpen Door Health tance program for patients Services has considered that need financial assisall aspects of this chronic tance with medications, illness and has taken all The health educator measures to assure our educates the patient one patients are well educated on one at the time the on every aspect of dia- patient is first diagnosed betes. Open Door Health with diabetes and with any Services looks at the on going needs. The chronic care model and health educator educates takes a team approach in on all aspects of diabetes diabetes care. Our staff with the patient. The goal consists of medical doc- is that the patient realizes tors, nurse practitioners, that diabetes is manageLPN’s and medical assis- able and educates them on tants. good self care. The facility also has a Some of the topics support service depart- talked about are: What is ment that consists of diabetes, what it does to health educators, dieti- the body, medication tians and nutritionists, instruction, diet, exercise, social workers, a behav- and foot care to name a

few. The health educators also work with the patients if they need assistance with diabetic medical supplies by providing them with a glucose meter, strips and what ever needs they may have. Diet and exercise are key components to managing diabetes. The nutritionist on staff works with patients one on one as well, educating them on refined sugars, carbohydrates, and meal planning. The nutritionist educates on the importance of having an exercise routine with diabetes. Patients are encouraged to start to make exercise part of their daily routine. Open Door Health Services recognizes the emotional aspect that diabetes can have on a person when he/she is first diagnosed, as well as the stressors that can arise over time with the chronic disease. The patients have access to a behavioral health specialist if they feel the need is there. This is an excellent service to our patients as diabetes can be overwhelming and some patients can tend to show signs of depression once diagnosed. Open Door Health Services also offers a weight loss class that many of our diabetic patients have found to be beneficial. The weight loss class is offered four times per year and is cotaught by a nutritionist and a health educator. This class is offered to the patients, as well as to the community. The weight loss class touches on many topics such as, label reading, portion control.

and cooking on a budget. The weight loss class is a great addition to help assist patients with diabetes self care, as well as help individuals in the community that just want to learn to be healthier. ... A goal of Open Door Health Services is to develop a diabetes support/visit group for the patients. The idea is to choose one issue related to diabetes care per class and focus on that. An example of this would be foot care, where we would bring in a podiatrist to check the patients’ feet and consult on good foot care. These classes would be a learning experience for the patient, as well as a good support system to be around others who are experiencing the same issues. The classes would help the patient to know they are not alone dealing with this chronic disease. Open Door Health Services sees several diabetic patients on a daily basis. The goal of our medical team is for patients to realize that although diabetes is considered to be a chronic disease, it is a manageable one. Our medical team gives patients the knowledge and resources they need to confidently manage their diabetes. The more knowledgeable the patients are about diabetes the better they can take care of themselves. Sally Myers, who has a bachelor s degree in health science, is a health educator and support service supervisor at Open Door Health Services, Muncie.