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Living Well with DiabetesReceiving a diagnosis of diabetes can be overwhelming. Not only do those who are newly diagnosed have to learn how to monitor and treat the disease, but they may also have to make diet and lifestyle changes. The good news, however, is that even small changes can make a big difference in a person’s health.
“When it comes to weight management, one of the biggest hurdles facing people is that they set unrealistic goals—they try to make huge changes and then get frustrated,” explained Ohio Valley General Hospital’s Outpatient Dietitian and Diabetes Educator Rachel Kingsley, RD, LDN. “Diabetes is a very complicated disease, and self-management can be a challenge. That’s why I encourage people to break things down into smaller steps
“For some people, joining a gym is a realistic change, but what they do at the gym and how they think they should progress may not be realistic,” she explained. “A person who hasn’t exercised for years needs to start slowly, with a five-minute walk on a treadmill and some stretching exercises before and after. If what they try to do is too strenuous, they won’t want to do it the next day.”
Kingsley also suggests substituting one food product for another, such as changing from a higher fat milk to a lower fat milk. “Over the course of a year, that adds up to a lot less calories, which results in pounds lost,” she said. “And it’s easier for a person to stick to a healthy diet if they don’t have to completely omit something they really like.”
The idea of having to completely remove favorite foods from one’s diet is a common one, according to Kingsley. “People are concerned that diabetes will take the joy out of eating, which is why we try to show people how the foods they like fit into a healthy eating plan,” she said. “Maybe they just need to eat smaller portions, or not eat certain foods as often as before.
“Dietitians are not the food police,” she added, laughing.
Ohio Valley General Hospital offers the program Living Well with Diabetes, recognized by the American Diabetes Association, to help those who are newly diagnosed or are having difficulty controlling blood sugars learn ways of dealing with the disease.
Through eight hours of group classes and a one-on-one visit with a diabetes educator, patients learn what diabetes is and what types of medications may be required; what they can eat and how to make smart food choices; how exercise plays a part in better health; how to manage stress, and how to prevent, detect and treat abnormal blood sugar levels and long term complications of diabetes.
Many insurance providers cover the cost of the classes, for example, Medicare covers 80% and a supplemental insurance will cover the other 20%. In addition, most insurance will cover for 2 hours of nutrition follow-ups every year. Kingsley also provides free phone follow-ups to patients to assist with weight management and blood sugar management. “Some folks I’ve been following for a year, and they are having really positive results,” she said.
Patients can also email Kingsley with their food records, and she will help them make realistic changes based on their food preferences and schedules. She provides meal planning tools to help patients “diagnose their plates,” to ensure that there is a balance between carbohydrates, proteins and fats, and also provides written materials and a list of resources, such as reputable websites that can help patients generate shopping lists and menus.
“Not only does the American Diabetes Association (ADA) provide useful tools on their website, but patients can visit websites such as www.calorieking.com to look up nutrition labels for specific foods and even compare products, such as chunky peanut butter versus smooth peanut butter,” said Kingsley. “On www.sparkpeople.com, patients can track their own intake by selecting what foods they’re eating and portion sizes, and the database will calculate the calories. They can even add in their level of physical activity.”
In March of 2009, Ohio Valley General Hospital introduced a Diabetes Day, where patients can come to learn more about diabetes resources, products, and services available, nutrition and weight loss, as well as undergo foot screenings provided by nurses from the Wound Care Center, and attend various lectures given by health care professionals, such as ophthalmology, pharmacy, and infection control to learn more about other medical issues related to the disease. The event will be held every March.
“Research is showing that patients who have ongoing nutritional support and/or work with a dietitian have better outcomes over time,” said Kingsley. “Touching base with us helps to keep people on track, an important part of prevention.”
For more information on the diabetes program at Ohio Valley General Hospital, visit www.ohiovalleyhospital.org or call 412-777-6205.