The Diabetes Center
AAMC helps Marylanders Cope with Diabetes
By Courtney Long, Special to AAMC
Diabetes is a frightening disease. It never takes a holiday, requires constant maintenance and, unlike some other conditions, doesn’t go into remission.
Yet, when patients adopt a proper diet, manage their disease and insulin levels correctly, and capitalize on the benefits of exercise, the impact of the disease can be dramatically reduced.
In 2005, AAMC saw an opportunity to help patients better manage the diabetes that would be with them for the rest of their lives, and formed the AAMC Diabetes Center.
Diabetes the Disease
Diabetes is a disease in which the body either does not produce enough insulin or does not properly use the insulin it produces. Insulin is a hormone, made in the pancreas, which converts sugar to energy -- energy essential for many of the body’s functions.
The cause of diabetes is not known; although scientists have attributed obesity, lack of exercise, and genetics as factors that contribute to the disease. The symptoms of diabetes include frequent urination, excessive thirst and/or hunger, blurry vision, fatigue, and trouble sleeping.
There are four major types of diabetes. In patients with Type One diabetes, the body does not produce any insulin. Patients diagnosed with Type Two diabetes either produce an insufficient amount of insulin or they have a difficult time using the insulin they produce. This type of diabetes is the most common in America, afflicting 263,700 Marylanders, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Diabetes Surveillance System. Gestational diabetes develops after a woman’s pregnancy, and usually results in Type Two diabetes. Pre-diabetes is a condition in which a person’s blood sugar level is high, but not high enough to diagnose them as having Type Two diabetes.
According to the Maryland Department of Health, more than half a million Maryland residents have diabetes, and many of them remain undiagnosed. In 2007, Marylanders with this disease spent more than $105 million on hospitalization for diabetes treatment.
Those aware of their condition, however, do not always seek the proper health care to help them manage their diabetes. According to a report issued by the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, as many as 67% of Americans with Type Two diabetes are not able to control their blood sugar level on a daily basis.
A Resource for Patients and Physicians: The AAMC Diabetes CenterOften, physicians do a tremendous job in helping patients manage the medical aspects of their diabetes, but may not have the dietary and nutritional training necessary to guide patients from a lifestyle perspective. While some practices pride themselves on offering dietary and nutritional coordinators, others are unable to offer such a service.
The AAMC Diabetes Center has a staff of three certified diabetes educators who help newly diagnosed patients learn how to live with this disease. Through an initial one-hour session and subsequent follow-up sessions, the educators assist patients in adapting their lifestyle to their disease, and in the process, help them create a plan to manage their diabetes. These educators create individualized exercise and nutritional programs for patients, and provide an essential support system necessary for controlling diabetes.
“Diabetes educators should not be seen as an alternative to a patient’s regular physician,” said Arianne Coffman, one of the AAMC educators. “Patients should still visit their own doctor who can prescribe their medications and order tests if necessary, at least every three months.. A doctor’s referral is also necessary to schedule a consultation with an educator at AAMC, so that the physician and the educator are both aware of a patient’s needs.”
AAMC educators help patients develop a customized exercise schedule that accommodates their individual life style. Coffman acknowledges that exercise can be difficult, but that she encourages patients to start slowly and gradually build their endurance. “Exercise is necessary,” said Coffman, “so the body can burn off any extra sugar in the blood stream.”
Coffman suggests aerobic exercises and anaerobic exercise at least 30 minutes a day, five times a week. She also encourages her patients to wear a Medical Alert bracelet or necklace at all times, but especially when they are exercising in case of a possible health emergency.
Healthy eating habits can work in tandem with exercise to improve overall health and limit the negative effects of diabetes.
“Healthy eating habits limit the potential problems that can arise from low insulin levels,” said Coffman. “Decreasing the amount of carbohydrates in a patient’s diet helps the body break down these sugars, without leaving high levels of sugar in the blood.” She encourages eating foods high in fiber and lean protein, neither of which have a high sugar content. She advises her patients to: “Never skip a meal, and limit your intake of fats and fried foods.”
Diabetes educators also warn patients about the risks of neglecting and failing to manage the disease. “Eye damage, diabetic kidney disease, circulatory problems, or nerve problems are just some of the potential ailments that may develop if patients ignore their sugar levels; we help educate and prepare our patients so that these side effects of diabetes can be avoided,” states Coffman.
AAMC’s diabetes educators also provide emotional support for patients diagnosed with diabetes, answering questions, encouraging attendance at monthly support groups, and helping patients establish their own support system at home with friends and family.
“Many patients have trouble accepting the fact that they have diabetes so we help them understand the disease,” said Coffman. “Our job as diabetes educators is to help these patients along the path toward a healthier lifestyle, and to help them manage their disease. We give them back the power over their own lives.”
For more information or to schedule an appointment with a diabetes educator, contact the AAMC Diabetes Center at (443) 481-5380.
To listen to an audio podcast about diabetes, and for more tips from Arianne Coffman, click here.
Examples of carbohydrates:
- Bread
- Pasta
- Cereal
- Crackers
- Vegetables like potatoes, beans, corn, peas,
- Fruits,
- Juice, milk, yogurt, and sweets
Examples of foods high in fiber
- Whole-grain breads
- Cereals
- Pastas
- Fruits & vegetables
Examples of foods with high levels of lean protein:
- Chicken
- Turkey
- Fresh fish and other seafood
Aerobic exercises Coffman suggests:
- Walking
- Swimming
- Biking
- Jogging
- Dancing
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