Our goal is to teach YOU how to manage your diabetes so that you can live a healthy, active life. As someone with diabetes, you are not alone! Approximately 16 million Americans have diabetes and it is estimated that only half are diagnosed!
While there is no cure, education and specialized care can help you manage diabetes. The Diabetes Outpatient Self-Management & Training Center of The Christ Hospital can help you and your family adjust to this lifestyle.
Outpatient Care
The Diabetes Outpatient Self-Management & Training Center of the Christ Hospital has a staff consisting of a certified clinical nurse specialist, certified diabetes educators and a registered and licensed dietician to assist you in managing your diabetes.
Diabetes Support Group
The Christ Hospital Diabetes Support Group meets quarterly, the second Monday of March, June, September and December from 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. in the Christ Hospital classrooms. The support group is free. Its informal setting invites sharing experiences with other diabetics and additional growth in you and your family's knowledge of diabetes and its management. A variety of speakers are invited to address educational topics.
Personalized Instruction
The Diabetes Outpatient Self-Management & Training Center offers both one-on-one and group instruction. You and your family can learn about the following:
- Diabetes Disease process
- Nutritional management
- Physical activity
- Medications
- Monitoring of glucose
- Acute complications
- Chronic complications
- Goal setting and problem solving
- Psychological adjustment
- Pregnancy and diabetes
Additional topics addressed include: skin care, foot care, stress management, medical I.D., travel and special concerns.
Appointments
Either you or your physician may schedule your appointments to be seen in the Diabetes Outpatient Self-Management & Training Center. (A written prescription is necessary to see the dietician.) A family member is always welcome!
Call the ScheduleEase Department at 513-585-2668 to schedule your appointments with the dietician, the certified clinical nurse specialist/certified diabetes educator.
Gestational Diabetes Education
Gestational diabetes is a form of diabetes that occurs only during pregnancy (and usually disappears after pregnancy). Too much glucose in the blood- or hyperglycemia- is how gestational diabetes is diagnosed.
A registered dietician and certified clinical nurse specialist (C.N.S.) and certified diabetes educator (C.D.E.) will help you with essential elements of self-care. Until you meet with the dietician, C.N.S. and C.D.E., follow these steps:
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Select a variety of foods when planning meals and snacks to ensure good nutrition.
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Enjoy three balanced meals and, if needed, include one to three snacks daily. A balanced meal may consist of a small portion (2-3 ounces) of meat, fish or poultry, one to two starch servings, two vegetable servings and a fruit and/or milk serving.
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Enjoy six to eight glasses of water daily.
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Avoid high sugar foods and beverages such as candy, cake, ice cream, sherbet, pie, high sugar cereals, honey, jelly, regular soft drinks, Kool-Aid, Gatorade and lemonade. Fruit juices also raise the blood sugar rapidly and should be limited.
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Check with your physician regarding daily exercise and blood glucose monitoring.
More Information
For more information about the Diabetes Outpatient Self Management & Training Center, call 513-585-1218.
