Diabetes Self-management Workshop to Be Held at Rogue Valley Medical Center

March 11, 2011 - PRLog -- MEDFORD, Ore.—The Asante Diabetes Education Center will sponsor, “Tune Up Your Skills,” a free diabetes self-management workshop on Saturday, Apr. 2, from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Smullin Health Education Center on the Rogue Valley Medical Center campus.

With effective use of meal planning, activity, monitoring and medications, if needed, people can live well with diabetes. At “Tune Up Your Skills,” nurses and dietitians who specialize in diabetes management will be on hand to help you with diet, exercise, and strategies to help you stay on track.

The workshop consists of four 30-minute sessions. Participants will rotate through the four workshops in assigned groups.

Session 1: “Choosing Premium Fuel: Adapting Recipes” with Nicole Hanks, RD, LD, CDE

Session 2: “Going the Distance: Coping Strategies for Detours and Crossroads” with Kaye Proctor LCSW

Session 3: “Rev Up Your Engine: Exercises to Help Diabetes Control” with Dee Gillen, ACSM Certified Health Fitness Specialist, ACSM/ACS Cancer Exercise Trainer

Session 4: “Tools for the Road: Product Displays and Information Booths”

Registration is required, and space is limited. Register by March 25, 2011, by calling the Diabetes Care Center in Medford at (541) 789-5906, ext. 1, or in Grants Pass at (541) 472-7120.

What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious chronic disease that prevents the body from creating enough insulin to properly process sugars, resulting in high blood sugar levels that may cause many health problems if left uncontrolled. Nearly 24 million Americans have diabetes, and at least 54 million people over age 20 have pre-diabetes. Whether you just found out you have diabetes or have been dealing with it for years, you can control your diabetes and live a long, active life. If you are at risk or have pre-diabetes, you can take small steps to help prevent or delay the onset of diabetes.

Type 2 Diabetes, considered by many to be one of the greatest health threats facing Americans, is often brought on by poor eating habits, obesity and physical inactivity. If not controlled, the high blood glucose can damage many parts of the body such as the heart, eyes, kidneys, and nerves. However, diabetes can be effectively managed through lifestyle changes and medication.

Resources
Asante Diabetes Care Center-- http://www.rvmc.org/RVMC/Medical-Services/diabetes_care/i...

Diabetes A-Z-- http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/a-z.asp

Diabetes Stats-- http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/populations/index.htm

National Diabetes Education Program-- http://ndep.nih.gov/diabetes/diabetes.htm

Diabetes Information from the Centers for Disease Control: http://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/resources/publications/AAG/ddt.htm

Facts
For people with prediabetes, lifestyle changes, including a 5%–7% weight loss and at least 150 minutes of physical activity per week, can reduce the rate of onset of type 2 diabetes by 58%.

Blood pressure control reduces the risk for heart disease and stroke among people with diabetes by 33%–50%.

23.6 million people in the United States (7.8% of the total population) have diabetes. Of these, 5.7 million have undiagnosed diabetes.

In 2007, about 1.6 million new cases of diabetes were diagnosed in people aged 20 years or older.

African American, Hispanic, American Indian, and Alaska Native adults are twice as likely as white adults to have diabetes.

If current trends continue, 1 in 3 Americans will develop diabetes sometime in their lifetime, and those with diabetes will lose, on average, 10–15 years of life.

Diabetes was the sixth leading cause of death on U.S. death certificates in 2006.

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Asante Health System is a non-profit organization providing advanced medical care to over 550,000 people in Southern Oregon and Northern California. It includes Rogue Valley Medical Center in Medford and Three Rivers Community Hospital in Grants Pass.