Did you know that 1 in 5 people don’t know that they have diabetes?
There are actually two types of Diabetes.
Type 1 is when the body doesn’t produce any insulin, which can happen at
any age for anyone. There are no known ways to prevent this type of Diabetes.
Type 2 Diabetes is when the body cannot use the insulin that it produces, properly.
This can develop at any age, but most cases can be prevented.
Some risk factors for Type 2 Diabetes are being overweight, not being physically
active, being over the age of 45 and having a history of Type 2 Diabetes
in the family.
If any of these factors resonate with you, you don’t have to panic!
We are going to give all the facts and steps that you can take to help
you prevent Type 2 Diabetes.
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We offer a great program within our Family Services department called The
Diabetes Prevention Program. This program was developed by the Center
of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to promote healthy lifestyle changesand
to help prevent, or delay, Type 2 Diabetes. It’s a yearlong program
focused on long-term changes and lasting results. It may sound like a
long time commitment, but the program uses peer-to-peer learning and a
coaching model that will result in a person’s overall wellbeing.
You can take the online screener
HERE, to find out if you are pre-diabetic.
- Along with this program, we provide diabetes education to our patients
regarding the importance of monitoring blood sugars, foot health and the
importance of diet and exercise. Diabetes can also affect your eyes and
gums. That is why our Eye Care and Dental teams are available for annual
eye and dental exams, so you can stay up to date on your health!
“We really do an amazing job taking care of our Diabetic patients
to prevent them from having Type 2 Diabetes,” says our PA-C, Annie
Coronado. “Patients with Diabetes should be seen every 3-6 months.
If a patient’s A1C is less than 7.0%, they will be seen every 6
months. However, if their A1C is above 7.0% they should be seen every
3 months.” A1C is a blood test that helps our providers measure
your average blood glucose, or blood sugar levels.
- We also have comprehensive lab work that needs to be done to monitor our
patient’s progress towards diabetic control, and our pharmacy helps
a lot with that. “Our Pharmacy works with us to help our patients
learn about their glucometer and how to check their blood sugars. They
educate our patients about their medications, including how the medication
will affect their Diabetes or possible side effects,” says Coronado.
Our nurses also provide individual support and answer questions to patient
concerns when they come in for their annual visits.
- Like we have stated before, physical activity and diet play an important
part in preventing Type 2 Diabetes. Our Dietician Nutritionists are here
to help you make good food choices for a healthy diet. “You want
your meals to be rich in vegetables and have healthy proteins. If you
need something sweet after, whole fruits like berries, citrus, apricots
and even apples are good to have,” says our Nutritionist, Karlee
Kerr. She recommends this hearty recipe called Mexican Meatball Soup as
the perfect meal for someone with Type 2 Diabetes. (See ingredients and
instructions below.)
- Our Health Educators are also available to you. As part of our Family Services
Department, and our Diabetes Prevention Program, they can help educate
you on how to check blood glucose levels, inject insulin, manage diabetes
with lifestyle changes and help answer any other questions you may have.
If you have Diabetes or think you might be pre-diabetic, we are here to
support you. Our Medical, Dental and Eye Care teams are here to help.
Make an appointment today to talk about your health by calling or texting
us at 509-488-5256 today.