Research has shown that a high percentage of the nearly 26 million people living with diabetes do not have their disease under control. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) recently launched a
free program aimed at improving patients’ self management of type 2 diabetes.
The Living with Type 2 Diabetes program has two parts: an
information booklet to be distributed by physicians on the day of diagnosis; and a 12-month program designed to provide patients with tools and resources to help manage their disease. Patients will receive information on managing blood sugar, nutrition, exercise, stress management, and preventing complications. Patients can enroll in the program
online.
“The goal of the Living with Type 2 Diabetes program is to provide newly diagnosed patients with the right information and tools at the right time to help them manage their disease and improve their lives,” said Beth Mayer-Davis, president of health care and education at the ADA.
“We talked to people who had recently been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and they told us what they would have wanted on the day of diagnosis: simple printed information, covering just the basics, given to them by their doctor.”
The program is available in both English and Spanish.
Physicians in the Pittsburgh area also should encourage their diabetic patients to attend
ADA’s Diabetes Expo on Nov. 5, 2011. This free one-day event features dance, fitness, and cooking demonstrations as well as health screenings, and provides patients the opportunity to talk with health care experts and lifestyle coaches about their diabetes.
For more resources for your diabetic patients, visit our
Family Health and Wellness website.