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November is American Diabetes Awareness Month
The burden of managing diabetes rests almost entirely on the patient. That’s the basis of the Diabetes Self-Management Program at Southern Jamaica Plain Health Center (SJPHC), which last month earned the American Diabetes Association’s Education Recognition award for helping patients maintain healthy lifestyles through education and personalized care.
“Patients are responsible for 95 percent of managing their diabetes,” Maureen Balaguera, RN, certified diabetes educator at SJPHC, said. “Finding the spark that motivates them to care for themselves is the key to success.”
Doctors, nurses and dietitians help patients succeed in diabetes management by teaching them to control their weight and blood sugar fluctuations, regulate their exercise habits, manage their medication schedules and cope with psychosocial issues.
Since 2000, more than 850 patients at SJPHC have participated in the program, including many native Spanish speakers like Victor Granados. A chef at a local restaurant, Granados learned to control his food intake and maintain a healthy diet to manage his type 2 diabetes. Dietitian Beth Klos, RD, provides menu options for Granados based on his cultural culinary preferences.
“This program helps me feel comfortable managing my diabetes,” Granados said.
Putting patients at ease by helping them control their diabetes is common practice throughout BWH’s distributed campus. Diabetes self-management programs at 221 Longwood Ave. and the Gretchen S. and Edward A. Fish Center at 850 Boylston St. also have been recognized by the American Diabetes Association, and Brookside Community Health Center is expected to gain similar recognition in coming months.
“We provide high quality care for diabetes patients,” said Rita McCarthy, NP, coordinator for BWH’s Diabetes Self-Management programs. “We continue exploring new opportunities to best serve our patients and personalize their care.”