“No diabetes management tool – no new oral agent, insulin, or medical device – is as important as the services of a certified diabetes educator (CDE). This relatively new health care profession has added immeasurably to the provision of good diabetes care.”
Christopher D. Saudek, MD
Past President, American Diabetes Association
The Certified Diabetes Educators at Alamo Diabetes Team are skilled in helping people change their behavior. They understand the obstacles you face in managing your diabetes. And they can help you learn how to take small steps to accomplish big changes.
Diabetes Self-Management Training (DSMT) is a fundamental part of overall diabetes care. DSMT will help you make changes in seven main areas of your lifestyle:
Healthy Eating
Nutrition habits are learned over a lifetime. Making healthy food choices will help to
control blood glucose (blood sugar) levels. The registered dietitian at Alamo Diabetes
Team will customize a meal plan to meet your individual needs. This plan is based on
your age, activity, weight goals, current lab results (i.e. blood sugar levels, cholesterol
levels and kidney function tests), and any other health concerns such as high blood
pressure or kidney problems. Your personalized meal plan will also take into account
your cultural identity, as well as your food preferences and schedule.
Regular Physical Activity
Regular physical activity has lots of health benefits. It can also help to manage your
blood glucose levels. The diabetes educators at Alamo Diabetes Team can teach you
a safe and practical approach on ways to incorporate physical activity into your lifestyle.
Taking Medication
Most people with diabetes will eventually need medication to help control their blood glucose levels. If your doctor prescribes medication, you need to understand how it works, when to take it, what precautions to take, and what side effects to watch out for. Many over-the-counter medicines can also have an effect on your diabetes control. The diabetes educators will make sure you understand your diabetes medications and how to properly follow your doctor’s recommendations.
Monitoring
Monitoring your blood glucose levels gives you valuable information. Monitoring tells you how well your nutrition, activity, and medication are working together to control your diabetes. The educators at Alamo Diabetes Team can help you select the glucose meter that best fits your needs. They can teach you the hands-on skills to operate the meter, and they can help you set up a reasonable monitoring plan. Once you understand what the numbers mean, you can begin to make the necessary adjustments in your eating habits, activity, and medication (with your doctor’s guidance).
Reducing Health Risk
Everyone wants to avoid diabetes complications like heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney failure, and amputation. As a person living with diabetes, you need to practice “preventive maintenance” to reduce your risks for these problems. Alamo Diabetes Team will train you in the steps of proper foot care. They can also explain which tests and exams you need (and how often you should have them) to monitor the status of your cardiovascular system, your eyesight, your kidneys, and the nerve function in your feet.
Coping & Adjustment
Living with a chronic condition like diabetes can be emotionally stressful. This is especially true when you are first diagnosed, when your treatment plan needs to change, or if you are experiencing complications. The diabetes educators at Alamo Diabetes Team understand what you are going through. They will listen to your concerns, and help you find ways to cope with this new dimension in your life. They will help you to strengthen your support system to adjust to the daily demands of managing diabetes.
Problem-Solving
Self-management of diabetes involves solving problems: Are your blood glucose levels too high? Have they dropped too low? What may have caused the blood glucose level to drastically change? It’s important to understanding how food, activity, medication, and stress work together to affect your blood glucose levels. Learning how to “put it all together” is a process that takes time to master. That’s why you can always call on the diabetes educators at Alamo Diabetes Team to help coach you until you have the confidence to problem-solve on your own.
|
