October Diabetes Session
Focuses on Blood Sugar and Patterns
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[October 15, 2015]
LINCOLN
- Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital provides a free support group
for people with diabetes mellitus. The group typically meets the third
Friday of the month but in October the group will meet on the fourth
Friday, October 23. All meetings take place in the Wombacher Room at
ALMH. The October discussion will focus on how to use the results from
blood sugar monitoring in order to appropriately adjust food and
exercise.
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According to the Illinois Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance
System, 9.9 percent of Logan County residents have been diagnosed
with diabetes. The National Diabetes Education Program recognizes
that it is common to feel overwhelmed, sad, or angry when you are
living with diabetes. You may know the steps you should take to stay
healthy, but have trouble sticking with your plan over time. Support
groups can be a critical piece to successful management of the
disease.
When diabetes is not under control, it can have a harmful effect on
most organ systems in the human body; it is a frequent cause of
renal disease and lower-extremity amputation, and a leading cause of
blindness among working age adults. Persons with diabetes are also
at increased risk for ischemic heart disease, neuropathy, and
stroke. Diabetes risk factors such as obesity and physical
inactivity have played a major role in this dramatic increase. Age,
race, and ethnicity are also important risk factors.
The casual group meetings are free and do not require registration.
Jennifer DiPasquale, a registered dietitian and certified diabetes
educator, leads the group. “The diabetes support group is a great
opportunity to get practical and timely information to learn how to
manage your diabetes,” DiPasquale said. Family members, friends, and
caregivers are also welcome to attend the meetings.
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Interested individuals should call DiPasquale at (217) 605-5535 or e-mail her at
diabetes@ almh.org for more information.
The next meeting will be held on November 20.
ALMH is a 25-bed critical access hospital located at 200 Stahlhut Drive in
Lincoln. For more information, visit ALMH.org.
[Angela Stoltzenburg, Abraham Lincoln
Memorial Hospital]
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