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Diabetes Treatment & Management
The Diabetes Self Management Program provides comprehensive diabetes
education for patients and family members. This program was designed
for patients with a new diagnosis of diabetes, those who have had
diabetes for many years or those who are at risk for the development
of diabetes and includes the medical management of diabetes.
The staff provides individual educational sessions for diabetic
patients to help them learn how to control the disorder and also
how to prevent medical complications associated with diabetes with the help of diabetes management goals.
Are You a Candidate?
- Newly diagnosed diabetic
- Elevated HgA1C
- Insulin resistant
- Need instruction on carbohydrate counting
- Experiencing complications of diabetes
Benefits of the Program
Studies provide compelling evidence that diabetes self management programs, involving a team approach that includes certified diabetes educators, not only significantly reduces overall health costs but also improves health outcomes. Physicians & patients who have used the Diabetes Self Management Program report that benefits include:
- Improved diabetes control
- Moral support through peer interaction
- Increased ability to cope with diabetes
- Patients who take oral diabetic medications, patients on insulin, and those with diabetes associated with pregnancy.
Comprehensive Instruction
Education is a cornerstone of diabetes treatment and management care. The multi-disciplinary team of specialists in diabetes
care lead individual & group discussions that teach patients how to cope with diabetes in an encouraging, caring atmosphere.
This program is certified by the American Diabetes Association & complies with their high standards.
Patients will be educated on a variety of diabetes-related issues:
- Understanding diabetes
- Hyperglycemia/hypoglycemia (high & low blood sugar)
- Glucometer use
- Medications for diabetes treatment and management
- Medications to treat diabetes
- Avoiding complications
- Coping with diabetes
- How to properly take & administer insulin
- Caring for diabetes during pregnancy
- How to exercise safely with diabetes
- Nutrition therapy for diabetes
Education Assessments
The patient's skills, knowledge and needs are assessed at the beginning of the program and again at completion. The patient's physicians will receive a follow-up summary of information on which the patient was instructed and what to emphasize with the patient during future physician follow up visits.
Gestational Program
Individual instruction will be provided to facilitate diabetes self-care knowledge and skills required during pregnancy. Education will promote positive coping behaviors for dealing with gestational diabetes as a complication of pregnancy.
Outpatient Visits
Individual educational sessions or classes with the nurse educator or dietician can be arranged at a convenient time on an outpatient basis.
A physician referral is required to participate in this medical management diabetes program and most insurance is accepted. To sign up for the program or for more information, call the Health Management Center in Little Rock at (501) 202-1877 or (501) 202-3704 in North Little Rock.