Diabetes Program

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Diabetes Program
Diabetes Program

Sign up for our Diabetes Prevention and Management Course

Join us for this comprehensive Diabetes education program! You will learn about how to identify risks and symptoms of Diabetes, types of Diabetes and Diabetes management, monitoring, medications, diet and treatments for Diabetes. Our program is more than routine visits, it’s a lifestyle change program. We provide a year-long based program of diet, exercise, education that will be monitored by our specialist. You’ll learn to eat healthy, keep foods you love, order healthy foods when dining out, and develop an easy activity schedule.

Weekly Program
Time: 1pm-3pm, Wednesdays

There will be a new topic each week to help you become fully skilled to manage your life and lifestyle with Diabetes. Call the AIHSC Clinic at 773-883-9100 or administration@aihschgo.org to sign up! Participation is limited to the first 10 applicants.

 

Living Well With Diabetes Schedule:

Week One: What is Diabetes? (preDM, DMI, DMII) -Risk Factors and how the clinic can help patients decrease these ie smoking, obesity, heart disease, HTN, high cholesterol -Signs and Symptoms of low and high blood sugar -Complications of untreated diabetes
Self-blood glucose monitoring -Receive a free journal and glucometer and learn how to use it -Learn appropriate blood glucose readings for the various times of day Week Two: Diabetes medications and how they work -Risk Factors and how the clinic can help patients decrease these ie smoking, obesity, heart disease, HTN, high cholesterol -How to recognize and approach trends in blood glucose readings -Know your numbers ( Lab Values)
Week Three: Diet -What to eat to when maintaining health blood glucose -How exercise affects blood glucose
Week Four: Learn about the annual healthcare visits needed as a diabetic patient -Annual physical and when to follow up -Eye for retinal health -Podiatrist for foot health -Dental for oral health

Call the AIHSC Clinic at 773-883-9100 or administration@aihschgo.org to sign up! Participation is limited to the first 10 applicants.

 

Diabetes Lifestyle Change Program Coach:

Sarina DiMaso PRSS, CHW, MAA, Recovery & Relapse Prevention Counselor, Fitness Trainer

Diabetes

What is diabetes mellitus? 

  • ^Blood sugar is too high. Too much sugar in the blood is not good for your health.

What is pre-diabetes? 

  • ^Blood sugar is higher than normal, but not high enough to be diagnosed.

There are two types of diabetes mellitus:

  • ^Type 1 Diabetes - About ~5% of those diagnosed with diabetes are diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. It's diagnosed primarily in children and young adults, and it is due to the body not being able to produce insulin.
  • ^Type 2 Diabetes - About 95% of those diagnosed with diabetes are diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. In Type 2 diabetes, the cells in the muscles, liver and fat do not use insulin properly. Eventually the body can't make enough insulin which leads to high blood pressure.

Diabetes and Obesity in the Community

Natives of all ages and both sexes have a high prevalence of obesity. Obesity is a key contributor to diabetes and it is a grave issue among Natives.  Increases in obesity and diabetes is relatively recent in Natives: In the Last 1-2 generations, we can be attribute these changes to the fact that their is a high abundance of foods that are extremely high in fat now available that weren’t before and the transition from a very physical and active lifestyle to a relatively immobile, sedentary, low physical lifestyle. 

Symptoms

Common symptoms of diabetes:

  • ^Urinating often
  • ^Feeling very thirsty or hungry even though you are eating regularly
  • ^Extreme fatigue
  • ^Blurry vision
  • ^Cuts / Bruises that are slow to heal
  • ^Weight loss - even though you are eating more (Type 1)
  • ^Tingling, pain, or numbness in the hands / feet (Type 2)
  • ^Not living a healthy lifestyle
  • ^Overweightness
  • ^No physical activity

Risk Factors

  • ^Family members / Immediate family members with a history of diabetes or high blood pressure.
  • ^Smoking

Diabetic Screening and Care

We provide diabetes screenings here at AIHSC as well as out-patient diabetes care and treatment. Adjustments in care and treatment are done in collaboration with clinician and patient.

True Metrix Meters

You can get a True Metrix meter to test your blood glucose levels from us. Learn when to test and what numbers to expect, and best ways to control blood sugar besides medication. Our staff can advise you on diet and exercise as part of your diabetes wellness program.

American Diabetes Association Resources (Website)

Lifestyle

Nutrition