Living Healthy With Diabetes
Taking Control of Your Diabetes through Self-Management Program
Scheduled in Cuba, NY
The rate of new cases of diagnosed diabetes in the United
States has begun to fall, but the numbers are still very high; especially in
Allegany County. More than 29 million Americans are living with diabetes, and
86 million are living with prediabetes, a serious health condition that
increases a person’s risk of type 2 diabetes and other chronic diseases.
“When someone is first diagnosed with diabetes, it is often
overwhelming,” explained Melissa Biddle, Community Health Manager at Ardent
Solutions. “Self-management or positive self-care behaviors can help people
control their diabetes. The Living Healthy with Diabetes workshop is provided 2
½ hours once a week for six weeks. People diagnosed with diabetes and their
caregivers are encouraged to participate.”
The purpose of the workshops is to prepare people with
diabetes to have the skills and confidence needed to manage their disease on a
daily basis and to manage its impact on life roles and emotions. Each
participant in the workshop receives a copy of the companion book, Living a
Healthy Life with Chronic Conditions, 4th Edition, and an audio relaxation
tape.
Subjects covered include: 1) techniques to deal with the
symptoms of diabetes, fatigue, pain, hyper/hypoglycemia, stress, and emotional
problems such as depression, anger, fear and frustration; 2) appropriate
exercise for maintaining and improving strength and endurance; 3) healthy
eating 4) appropriate use of medication; and 5) working more effectively with
health care providers.
“Participants make weekly action plans, share experiences,
and help each other solve problems they encounter in creating and carrying out
their self-management program,” continued Biddle. “Such education, however,
should be seen as in addition to, not an alternative for, clinically based
diabetes education available at the Jones Memorial Hospital’s Diabetes
Education Clinic or with your healthcare provider.”
Living Healthy with Diabetes is scheduled for Wednesdays;
May 3-June 7, 2017, from 11:30a.m.-2:00p.m., at the Cuba Cultural Center, 38
East Main Street, Cuba, New York. Cost of the program is just $10.00.
Scholarships are available. Successful graduates of the series will receive a
$30.00 Gift Card for attending. To enroll, please call Ardent Solutions at
585-593-1738. Pre-registration is required by May 1, 2017.
