Diabetes Self-management Education and Support Classes

Diabetes is the eighth leading cause of death in the United States, and people with diagnosed diabetes have a 50 percent higher risk of early death than those without the disease.  People with diabetes are at higher risk for severe health complications, such as blindness, kidney failure, heart disease, stroke, and lower-limb amputations.  Receiving a diabetes diagnosis can be scary, and for some, learning how to understand and manage their disease can be overwhelming.

Improved health management can help people with diabetes live longer and healthier lives, and services exist to help individuals and their healthcare teams prevent or delay diabetes complications.  One evidence-based diabetes management tool is diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES).  DSMES is a program that helps people gain the knowledge and skills they need to manage their diabetes and related conditions.

Individuals who participate in DSMES classes experience positive impacts in their lifestyle, such as changes in eating patterns and activity levels, improved hemoglobin A1C levels, the prevention or delay of diabetes complications, and improved quality of life.  Studies also confirm that there are reduced hospital admissions and readmissions due to participation in DSMES classes, making the program a cost-effective tool for patients and healthcare facilities.

There are four times when a person who is diagnosed with diabetes should request a referral to a diabetes education program:

• When first diagnosed
• At an annual exam
• When it becomes more difficult for a person to manage their diabetes, such as emotional factors, new health issues, new medication, or changes in access to food or money

During life changes, such as divorce or death of a loved one, or acquiring new insurance coverage
DSMES classes are led by certified diabetes educators, dietitians, pharmacists, and registered nurses.  They possess comprehensive knowledge of and experience in diabetes prevention, care, and management.  The specialists educate, support, and advocate for people with diabetes while promoting self-management to achieve individualized behavioral and treatment goals that reduce risks and optimize health outcomes.

Licking Memorial Hospital (LMH) offers DSMES classes through a physician referral for patients with diabetes. The classes are a series of two, 3-hour sessions. Participants may choose to attend classes on the first and second Wednesday of each month, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 Noon, at the Gerald K. McClain Building, located at 20 West Locust Street in Downtown Newark, or on the third and fourth Wednesday of each month at the Licking Memorial Diabetes Learning Center, located at 1865 Tamarack Road in Newark, from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m.  Information on programming and course fees can be found by calling (220) 564-4915.

Additional diabetes education and ongoing management is provided by the LMH Medication Therapy Clinic through specifically trained clinical pharmacists, nurses, dietitians, and medical assistants.  To help reach personal goals, patients are educated on properly checking blood sugars levels, how to administer and manage medications, and are encouraged through healthy lifestyle and dietary changes.  Patients interested in using technology, such as continuous glucose monitors or insulin pumps, are guided through the setup process and provided with ongoing support to achieve lasting, positive results.  A physician referral is required, and patients can expect to have routine visits every 2 to 8 weeks depending on individual needs and goals.

| Posted On : 11/2/2023 11:26:53 AM