ALMH to offer interactive diabetes classes

[November 12, 2009]  Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital is seeking people with diabetes for a new class that takes a very different approach to improving self-management of diabetes.

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 started on Nov. 11, but 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 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."

After launching the U.S. Diabetes Conversation Map program in 2007, Healthy Interactions 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.

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 Nov. 11, Nov. 18, Dec. 2 and Dec. 9 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. in Conference Room C 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 732-2161, ext. 75199, if you're interested in learning more.

[Text from file received from Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital]