“Having a disease without a cure means having to learn how to live
with it every day. This can feel pretty overwhelming when you are first
diagnosed with diabetes,” says Annette Crombie, Catawba Valley Medical
Center (CVMC) Diabetes Education Coordinator. “That’s where
we come in! Think of us as your diabetes resource and education center.”
Education is the key to successfully managing your diabetes and the team at
CVMC's Center for Diabetes Control will provide you with essential knowledge, tools and skills to control
your blood sugar andlive a healthy life. We offer a number of educational
programs to help you learn how to control and manage the effects of the
disease within your choice of a supportive classroom or one-on-one setting.
A broad array of diabetes-related topics are covered including:
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- Complications Associated with Uncontrolled Diabetes
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- Intensive Insulin Therapy Programs
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“Our most popular and comprehensive program is the Diabetes Self-Management
Education (DSME) class,” explains Annette. “This group is
specifically for adults with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. There are four
classes within the program and a new program starts every month.”
With classes offered both during daytime and evening hours, the program
aims to meet the needs of any patient. All classes are taught by experienced
healthcare professionals, including certified diabetes educators, registered
nurses, and registered dietitians - all of whom have received training
in the most current methods of treating diabetes.
Here’s quick run-down of what’s covered each week of the Diabetes
Self-Management Education program:
Class 1:
Medications and Self-Monitoring Blood Glucose
Taught by a pharmacist/Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE) along with RN/CDE,
this is a crucial class for anyone taking medications for diabetes, high
blood pressure, high cholesterol and other chronic conditions. We will
discuss blood glucose monitoring, sick-day management and management of
low blood glucose, and high blood glucose.
Class 2:
Nutrition—Basic Carb Counting and Meal Planning
This group class is a must for those interested in focusing on healthy
eating and learning how carbohydrates affect blood sugar. Our Registered
Dietician will help you learn how to count carbs and plan healthy meals
that can include your favorite foods!
Class 3:
Exercise is Medicine & Social Aspects of Diabetes
This class is presented by one of our fitness experts from Fitness Plus.
You’ll learn why exercise is such an important part of diabetes
management and receive a free voucher-good for a 1-month trial at Fitness
Plus. Our RN/CDE will discuss the impact of stress on blood glucose control
and the group will design strategies for managing difficult situation
and coping with stress.
Class 4:
Prevention of Long-Term Diabetes Complications
In this class, we explore evidence-based ways to prevent complications
of diabetes, such as blindness, neuropathy, kidney failure, and others.
Participants are not required to attend all four classes, but Annette reports,
“On average, patients who complete all four classes, decrease their
A1C (a measurement of blood glucose, or blood sugar, levels over the past
3 months) by an average of 1.7%!” As numerous studies conducted
over the last several decades conclude, achieving and maintaining A1C
results can help prevent and/or delay the common and costly complications
of diabetes like: high blood pressure, heart attacks, strokes, diminished
sight or blindness, nerve damage and more.
Are you ready to outsmart diabetes? Call our
Center for Diabetes Control at 828.326.3442 to schedule your first class today.
Visit us online for a complete list of programs offered through our diabetes center.