Eileen Hay, CDE., left,
and Peg Natole,
employees of The Bellevue Hospital,
look over the educational material to be used for the upcoming Diabetes
Support Group, to be held for the first time on Wed., Jan. 8, in Building B
behind the hospital.
Citing an increased need for diabetic education and awareness, The Bellevue
Hospital is beginning a new Diabetic Support Group, meeting on the second
Wednesday of each month from 12:30-1:30 p.m. The support group is free and
open to the public and will meet for the first time on Wednesday, Jan. 8,
2003, in the Conference Center, located in the lower level of Building B
directly behind the hospital.
“There are over 17 million people in the United States alone with some type
of diabetes,” stated Eileen Hay, Certified Diabetic Educator with The
Bellevue Hospital, citing American Diabetes Association (ADA) statistics
www.diabetes.org .
“This support group was created because of the growing number of diabetics,
and most importantly, because our patients have requested it.”
Diabetes is a disease characterized by the body’s inability to produce or
properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone needed to convert sugars,
starches, or other foods into energy needed for daily living.
Hay
treated over 260 diabetic patients last calendar year, and she expects that
number to climb for 2003. “According to ADA figures, nearly 6 million people
in the U.S. have some type of diabetes, but are unaware of it,” continued
Hay. “This support group will help to educate diabetic patients, their
family members, and anyone interested in learning more about diabetes. The
topics at the monthly meetings will be generated by ideas from those who
attend the meetings.”
Risk
factors for diabetes include age (over 45), obesity, eating habits, and
inactivity. “Diabetes is starting to become an epidemic in the U.S.,” added
Hay. “Some symptoms of diabetes to watch out for include fatigue, increased
thirst or hunger, frequent urination, weight loss, and any change in vision.
However, some people with diabetes may show no symptoms at all, so it is
important to receive a yearly physical, especially those over the age of
45.”
There
are three major types of diabetes, including Type I, Type II, and
gestational diabetes. Type I diabetes results from the body’s failure to
produce insulin. It is estimated that 5-10% of Americans diagnosed with
diabetes have Type I diabetes.
Type II
diabetes results from insulin resistance, a condition in which the body
fails to make enough or properly use insulin, combined with insulin
deficiency. Approximately 90-95% have Type II diabetes.
Gestational diabetes affects about 4% of all pregnant women in the U.S. each
year. Pregnant women who have never had diabetes before but who have high
blood sugar levels during pregnancy are said to have gestational diabetes.
If not treated, this extra blood glucose (sugar) goes through the placenta,
giving the baby high blood glucose levels. This causes the baby’s pancreas
to make extra insulin to get rid of the blood glucose. Since the baby is
getting more energy than it needs to grow and develop, the extra energy is
stored as fat. This can lead to macrosomia, or “fat baby” syndrome. Babies
with excess insulin become children who are at risk for obesity and adults
who are at risk for Type II diabetes.
The
National Certification Board recently recertified Hay as a Certified
Diabetes Educator (CDE) after she successfully completing the exam. The
certification is valid for five years, and this is the third time that Hay
has achieved CDE status. According to the National Certification Board,
“Achieving the CDE credential demonstrates to patients and employers that
the health care professional possesses distinct and specialized knowledge,
thereby promoting quality of care for patients with diabetes.”
For
additional information on the Diabetic Support Group, contact Hay at (419)
483-4040, Extension 4303.
