Diabetes affects nearly 30 million children and adults in the United States today, nearly 10 percent of the population. Another 86 million Americans have pre-diabetes and are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes. These startling numbers spotlight the importance of diabetes education.

The diabetes education program at Mercy Memorial Hospital recently earned recognition from the American Diabetes Association. The ADA education recognition is a voluntary process that assures approved education programs have the national standards diabetes self-management education. Programs that achieve the recognition have a staff of knowledgeable health professionals who provide state-of-the-art information about diabetes management.

Quality educational programs are critical because this health issue is growing. Recent estimates project that as many as 1 in 3 American adults will have diabetes by 2050 unless we take steps to Stop Diabetes® … which is an ADA initiative. Every 19 seconds someone in the U.S. is diagnosed with diabetes. African Americans and Hispanics are almost twice as likely to have diabetes as non-Hispanic whites.

The Toll on Health

· Diabetes nearly doubles the risk for heart attack and for death from heart disease.

· Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure.

· Diabetes is the leading cause of new cases of blindness among working-age adults.

· The rate of amputation for people with diabetes is 10 times higher than for people without diabetes.

· Roughly 60 to 70 percent of people with diabetes have mild to severe forms of nerve damage that could result in pain in the feet or hands, slowed digestion, sexual dysfunction and other nerve problems

Diabetes Self-Management Education Program

You can live an active, healthy life, even with diabetes. To do that, you and your family need to learn how to manage your disease. Self-management education is an essential component of diabetes treatment. The hospital’s registered nurse and registered dietitian can help you in these important areas:

· Diabetes overview

· Meal planning

· Medications

· Glucose monitoring

· Dental care

· Foot care

· Gestational diabetes

· Family involvement and support

· Psychosocial adjustment

· Prevention and detection

· Treatment of acute and chronic complications

For dates and times for education provided at Mercy Memorial Hospital, call 937-328-8100. You need to schedule in advance and have an order from your doctor to attend classes.