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What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a disease that causes you to have too much sugar in your blood. High blood sugar problems start when your body can no longer make enough insulin or your body does not use the insulin you make properly. Insulin is a hormone made by your body.
Insulin helps sugar move from your blood into your cells for energy and keeps your blood sugar level normal (not too high; not too low). When you don't have enough insulin to lower high blood sugar levels, you have diabetes.
Diabetes must be treated because high blood sugar levels can cause serious health problems such as blindness, kidney disease and heart disease.
Diabetes education is an important step to control your diabetes. Your doctor, diabetes educator and other team members will teach you to successfully control your diabetes.
Diabetes Education
Education is provided in a series of four group classes held monthly. One to one education is available to persons with special learning needs and those who take insulin.
Topics covered in the program include:
- Introduction to diabetes
- Foot care
- Blood glucose monitoring
- Behavior changes
- Nutrition/meal planning
- Stress management
- Medications
- Community resources
- Complications
Costs of the education program depend on the services provided. Costs are usually covered by insurance but require an order from your doctor.
This program is endorsed by the American Diabetes Association, the Michigan Department of Community Health, and is based on National Diabetes Self Management Education Standards.
Gestational Diabetes
Gestational diabetes is a form of glucose intolerance diagnosed during pregnancy and requires treatment to avoid complications in the infant. Women who have had gestational diabetes have a 40% to 60% chance of developing Type 2 diabetes in the next 5-10 years.
This specialized diabetes education program teaches self-management techniques to mothers-to-be in a personalized, one-on-one session. A certified diabetes educator works with the expectant mom to improve her blood glucose control and teach skills to ensure a healthy pregnancy. Costs are usually covered by insurance but require an order from your doctor.
Diabetes Prevention - Your Game Plan for Preventing Type 2 Diabetes
Pre-diabetes is a condition in which individuals have blood glucose levels higher than normal but not high enough to be classified as diabetes. Persons with pre-diabetes are at high risk for developing type 2 diabetes.
Your Game Plan is a FREE two-hour diabetes prevention class providing an
- Overview of pre-diabetes
- Self-risk assessment
- Lifestyle modifications
- Risk reduction
Diabetes Support Group
Continuing education is part of staying healthy with diabetes. Held the 2nd Wednesday every month at 7 p.m. in the St. Mary Mercy Hospital Auditorium, guest speakers present current topics of importance to maintain good control of diabetes. This is a FREE program. Registration is not required.
Links
American Diabetes Association
National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse
Diabetes Risk Assessment
Instructors:
Diabetes Program Coordinator
Virginia Ramsay, MSN, RN, CDE
ramsayg@trinity-health.org
734-655-8947
Michell Porisch, RN, BSN
PorischM@trinity-health.org
734-655-8945
Sandy Seykell, RD, BS, CDE
seykells@trinity-health.org
734-655-8941
Judy Swancutt, MS, RD, CDE
swancuttj@trinity-health.org
734-655-2868
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