 Called the U.S. Diabetes Conversation Map program, 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.
A new session of classes starts on Wednesday and there's still
time to register for this session through www.almh.org or by calling
732-2161, ext. 75199.
"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 it 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."
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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There are five different Conversation Map tools 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 to 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, 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.
The current session schedule meets Jan. 6, 13, 20 and 27 from 6
to 8 p.m. in the Lincoln Room at ALMH. Because of the program's
structure, a limited number of participants can enroll for each
session. Additional sessions will be offered in 2010. Call Jennifer
DiPasquale at 732-2161, ext. 75199 if you're interested in learning
more.
[Text from file received
from Abraham Lincoln Memorial
Hospital]
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