 Called the U.S.
Diabetes Conversation Map, the class will be guided by patients in
an interactive setting. The program was developed by
Healthy Interactions
Inc., a global leader in health education, in collaboration with
the American Diabetes Association.
"It's always patient-centered, promoting what the group feels is
important," says Jennifer DiPasquale, clinical dietitian at ALMH.
"I'm really excited to offer this program here in Lincoln. This
education is offered in the traditional format in Springfield and
Bloomington, but has not been available in Lincoln for many years.
There are lots of people who need it, and they won't have to drive
out of town to get it."
The first session of classes at ALMH is expected to begin in
February. The class will meet weekly from 3 to 5 p.m. on Wednesdays
in the Lincoln Room.
Since launching the U.S. Diabetes Conversation Map program in
2007, Healthy Interactions has trained more than 10,000 health care
professionals in just 10 months. The program meets the American
Diabetes Association criteria for diabetes self-managed education.
"Up until now, health education has been a one-way monologue with
patients filling a lecture-style room to listen to an educator. What
Healthy Interactions has created is a totally different way to
engage patients; in fact, we are changing the paradigm of health
education so people living with diabetes are better able to take
control of their health," said Peter Gorman, co-founder of Healthy
Interactions.
The Conversation Map program is driven by conversation and built
on the belief that people learn by being engaged -- hearing, seeing,
exploring, discussing and doing.
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Five different Conversation Map tools are included in the program:
-
"On the Road to
Better Managing Your Diabetes" covers many of the basic concepts
one needs to know as it relates to managing diabetes.
-
"Diabetes and
Healthy Eating" engages participants in a detailed discussion
about the connection between food and diabetes and the
importance of healthy eating in managing diabetes.
-
"Monitoring Your
Blood Glucose" engages patients in a discussion about the
importance of monitoring blood glucose, managing high and low
blood glucose, and how to use the results from monitoring to
better manage diabetes.
-
"Continuing Your
Journey with Diabetes" focuses on complex concepts related to
diabetes, including the natural course of diabetes, the medicine
options that exist, what insulin is and how it works, long-term
complications associated with diabetes, and the key ABCs: A1C,
blood pressure and cholesterol.
-
"Caring for Gestational Diabetes"
engages participants in a discussion about the feelings and
emotions that can come with being pregnant and having
gestational diabetes, the risks associated with and how to care
for gestational diabetes, and what one might expect after
pregnancy.
Because of the program's structure, a limited number of
participants can enroll. Call Jennifer DiPasquale at 732-2161, ext.
75199, if you're interested in learning more.
[Text from file received
from Abraham Lincoln Memorial
Hospital] |
