Southside Community Hospital now offers Diabetes Self-Management Training Programs

Southside Community Hospital now offers Diabetes Self-Management Training Programs for individuals with
diabetes. According to the American Diabetes Association, tight control of diabetes will prevent or delay the
progression of the chronic complications of diabetes. Good control of diabetes also helps individuals with diabetes feel more energetic and healthy. Individuals with diabetes can successfully manage their diabetes by learning about healthy meal planning, physical activity, diabetes medication, stress management, and home blood sugar
monitoring.

There are three hospital staff members on the diabetes education team: dietitians, Elizabeth Currin RD, Leslie Montemayer RD, and certified diabetes educator, Mary Beth Rank RN, APRN-BC. Small group classes are taught weekly by the diabetes education team using American Diabetes Association approved curriculum.Within a year the program anticipates certification by the American Diabetes Association.

The first small group class focuses on diabetes survival skills of medication management, home glucose
monitoring, and nutritional basics. The second class centers on the prevention, detection, and treatment of acute and chronic complications of diabetes, exercise therapy, and psychosocial adjustment to diabetes. The final class emphasizes goal setting and problem solving for daily living with diabetes, and advanced topics such as
carbohydrate counting and pattern management. All individuals enrolled in the diabetes program are offered
follow-up appointments to discuss any difficulties with achieving their diabetes self-management plan.

Individual consultations for medical nutritional therapy, insulin administration, and home glucose monitoring are also offered by the diabetes education team.

If you would like more information about the diabetes self-management training program at Southside Community Hospital, please contact your physician or call the hospital diabetes program coordinator, Mary Beth Rank, RN at 434-315-2617.