by Tara Beverly
Diabetes Self
Management Training Classes by Appalachian Rural Health
Institute’s (ARHI) Diabetes/Endocrine Education Center will be
held Thursday, July 21, and Friday, July 22, in Grosvenor Hall
from 1 to 4 p.m. The classes are for individuals with newly
diagnosed diabetes or diabetics in need of a review of patient
self management methods.
Diabetes is a
disease in which the body does not produce or properly use
insulin. Insulin is a hormone needed to convert sugar, starches
and other food into energy needed for daily life. The cause of
diabetes continues to be a mystery, although both genetics and
other factors, such as obesity and lack of exercise, do play
roles. There are 18.2 million people in the United States, or
6.3 percent of the population, who have diabetes, according to
ADA. While an estimated 13 million have been diagnosed with
diabetes, unfortunately, 5.2 million people, close to one-third,
are unaware that they have the disease.
Proper self
management of diabetes is extremely important to help avoid the
life-threatening complications of diabetes: heart disease,
stroke and macro- and micro-degenerations of the nerves and
other bodily systems. According to the American Diabetes
Association (ADA), people with diabetes have earlier occurrences
of heart disease, are two to four times more likely to have
heart disease and are more likely to die as a result of heart
disease. The message is this: persons with uncontrolled diabetes
will suffer serious health consequences.
People with
diabetes who employ recommended self management techniques can
live relatively normal lives and will live longer than those who
do not, according to the medical community.
To attend classes
you must have a referral from your physician and an individual
assessment done by the center.
Classes are
taught by Suzanna Theodoras, R.N., OU-COM diabetes nurse
educator, and Barbara Nakanishi, OU-COM clinical
dietitian. Theodoras and Nakanishi are certified diabetes
educators.
“Our mission is
to reduce the complications of diabetes in Southeastern Ohio
through education and support,” says Nakanishi. Over the past
years OU-COM researchers have uncovered that Southeastern Ohio
has more than twice the national rate of diabetes.
“So far we have
had positive feedback from class participants. A lot of them
have thanked us and says they felt fortunate that this service
was established,” says Theodoras.
To register for
classes, please contact Suzanna Theodoras at (740) 593-2453.
After the July classes, classes are scheduled for Aug. 25 and
26.
ARHI was founded
by OU-COM and the College of Health and Human Services to
further diabetes research, clinical training and care and
education.
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