Diabetes Management

Clients learn how to modify their lifestyles to manage their diabetes. Skills they will learn will help them avoid complications and enhance the quality of their lives.

Topics will include:

• Basics of eating and planning meals
• Exchange planning
• Carbohydrate Counting
• Using the GL Concept
• Snacking for Health
• Physical acitivity and exercise
• Monitoring blood glucose levels
• Longterm complication prevention
• Shopping and label-reading
• Medication management
• Stress and coping
• Supportive resources

Diabetes management should start before one is actually diagnosed with the disease. With established known risks, it is very possible to prevent or at least delay the onset of Type 2 Diabetes (Adult Onset Diabetes) with diet and lifestyle modifications. This intermediary stage, known as Metabolic Syndrome or Syndrome X (pre-diabetes), is identified by the following factors:

• Triglycerides elevated >150)
• Low HDL Cholesterol (< 40 for men and < 50 for women)
• High blood pressure ( > 130/85)
• Impaired Fasting Blood Sugar (> 110 and <126 mg/dl)
• Abdominal Obesity - waist measurement > 40 inches for men and > 35 inches for women

Statistically, 40% of all Americans over 40 have this syndrome. Most are unaware. But it is only a matter of time before diabetes will be a reality. The major problem is that many of the known diabetic complications are already happening when this Metabolic Syndrome exists.

It is SO critical to intervene at this stage (or before). If you think you may have this condition, talk to your health professional as soon as possible.