Diabetes Management
If you or a family member have been recently diagnosed with diabetes, you'll be glad to know that Franklin General Hospital is here for you. You may be confused or worried about the disease and what it means, but the good news is that diabetes can be controlled.
Franklin General Hospital is certified by the American Diabetes Association to provide education and support to those who are living with the disease. With diabetes, knowledge can save your life. FGH’s trained diabetes educators can work with you one-on-one to answer your questions. Our diabetes team can help you learn to take charge by watching what you eat, taking your medications, exercising, and monitoring your blood sugars - information to help you live.
For more information on diabetes care, call Megan Oehlert at 641.456.5018.
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a condition in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin, a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches, and other food into energy. There are three main types of diabetes, Type 1, Type 2 and gestational diabetes.
Type 1 is most common in children and young adults and occurs when the pancreas has stopped making insulin. The exact cause has not been determined.
Type 2 diabetes occurs when the pancreas is making less insulin, the insulin being produced is not working as efficiently as it should, or the liver may be releasing stored sugar when the body doesn't need it. Although Type 2 diabetes has traditionally been diagnosed in adults over 30, it may also be found in children and adolescents. Lifestyle risks include obesity and inactivity.
Gestational Diabetes is abnormal blood sugar that occurs only during pregnancy. Gestational diabetes is more likely to occur in women who are overweight, have a family history of diabetes, have had a baby who weighed more than nine pounds, or who have had gestational diabetes in the past.
The classic symptoms of diabetes include:
- A general feeling of fatigue or tiredness
- Increased thirst and urination
- Blurriness of vision
- Slow healing cuts
- Tingling or numbness of the extremities
- Sometimes a weight change
Outpatient Diabetes Education
Outpatient diabetes education is provided through individual or group classes and presented by a diabetic educator, who specializes in diabetes management. Nurse diabetes educators provide an overview of diabetes management and teach blood sugar monitoring.
They address issues relating to:
- high and low blood sugars
- care during illness
- preventing long-term complications
- foot care
- psychological aspects
- motivating clients to plan behavior changes to maintain the best control of their disease.
- sharing resources available on local, state and national levels.
Nutrition diabetes educators focus on:
- how foods affect blood sugars
- determining food portions
- reading labels
- eating out choices
- healthy cooking techniques
- adjusting meal plans to activities and illness.
It is known that no single diet works to treat all people with diabetes. Diets should be individualized to meet the unique needs of each person according to their likes, dislikes and activities. Frequent monitoring of blood glucose levels enables individuals with diabetes to adjust their own insulin doses to compensate for the changes in usual eating times, meal patterns, and exercise habits. The American Diabetes Association recommends a heart healthy meal plan, which is good for the entire family.