If you have diabetes, you know that it can be a difficult disease to manage. Day in and day out people with diabetes are expected to watch what they eat, get exercise, check their blood sugars, and take their medications. All this can seem daunting, and at times cause burn-out. A Certified Diabetes Care & Education Specialist (CDCES) can help you develop an individualized plan that fits your current lifestyle, by working with you to set small, realistic goals to get you moving in the right direction toward improving your overall health. Together you will explore solutions to your unique challenges.
Diabetes Self-Management Education explores 7 important Self-Care Behaviors:
- Healthy Eating
- Exercise
- Medications
- Monitoring your Blood Sugar
- Short Term Complications (high or low blood glucose) & Long Term Complications (heart disease, kidney disease, eye disease and nerve damage)
- Healthy Coping
- Problem Solving
To learn more about the ADCES7 Self-Care Behaviors, watch this video.
4 key times to see your Diabetes Care & Education Specialist
- When To See A Diabetes Care and Education Specialist
- Do you have obesity, prediabetes, diabetes or diabetes-related complications?
Continuous Glucose Monitoring Services
The BCMH Diabetes Education Program also offers Continuous Glucose Monitoring, or CGM, services. A CGM is a small device that is worn on the body (typically the back of the arm or the stomach) that collects glucose readings every 1 to 5 minutes. These devices can be very helpful in assessing current glucose patterns and can help to identify areas in need of adjustments in your diabetes plan.
Professional CGM vs Personal CGM
A professional CGM is worn for a period of 10-14 days and can be blinded (patient cannot see the data while being collected) or unblinded (patient can see the data while collected, typically from a smartphone). A professional device is placed and removed by the Diabetes Care & Education Specialist. Collected data is then shared with the primary care provider who interprets the data and uses it to advise adjustments in your diabetes care regimen.
A personal CGM is often recommended for patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes who are currently taking multiple daily insulin injections that are not currently achieving glucose targets or are experiencing low blood glucose values. Personal CGM devices send blood glucose readings to either a smart device or a personal reader. If desired, data can be shared with caregivers and/or your medical team.
To learn more about Continuous Glucose Monitoring services offered at BCMH, call Pam Dove, MS, RDN, CDCES at 524-3449. Insurance coverage varies by plan.
Diabetes Support Group
Connecting with others who have the same disease allows participants, who understand the disease first had, to share their experiences, knowledge and support, and to provide practical advice for challenging situations and questions that may arise.
The BCMH Diabetes Education Program offers a free monthly support group, open to all, whether or not you have already participated in our program. Diabetes support is essential for long term success whether you are newly diagnosed or if you have had diabetes for years. Topics will vary by month and will be based upon hot topics and participant needs. Our support group is currently being offered virtually due to the COVID19 pandemic. This series is completely free but all attendees must register to receive Zoom information.
Date to be determined, please contact Pam Dove.
In addition to our local support group, numerous others exist. To name a few:
- beyondtype1.org
- beyondtype2.org
- collegediabetesnetwork.org
- diatribe.org
- TCOYD.org (Taking Control of Your Diabetes)
Access & Affordability Resources
Are you having difficulties affording you diabetes medications and supplies? Click the link below to find access & affordability information compiled by the Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists. Reach out to your local Diabetes Care & Education Specialist at 524-3449 for further assistance.
