DGMC educates during Diabetes Awareness Month

  • Published
  • By Juanita Smith
  • 60th Medical Group
Education makes an individual more powerful with the knowledge they obtain, understand, and can actually use on a daily basis. The mantra of "Information is Power" is encouraged at David Grant USAF Medical Center where more effort is placed into providing education about diabetes during the month of November than any other time of the year.

In an attempt to help make our Travis family more powerful against diabetes, a slate of special programs and classes are provided by DGMC's population health office and diabetes education program during Diabetes Awareness Month:

"Diabetes ... Why should you care?" A one-day health fair on diabetes education, held Nov. 13 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Exchange mini mall, next to the Exchange pharmacy.

"Your health: It's in your hands" This one-time class, held every third Tuesday of the month from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in the Diabetes Education classroom, located on the first floor of DGMC inside the Internal Medicine Clinic is geared towards providing an individual with information that can give them information on how to delay and maybe prevent the occurrence of Type II diabetes.

"Your journey with diabetes" This series of classes, given over four consecutive Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in the Diabetes Education classroom provides a newly diagnosed diabetic with survival information (i.e., disease process, monitoring your blood sugar, medications, how stress affects the blood sugar, complications). This class may also provide great supportive information to someone who is diabetic but has not attended classes for five years or more.

"Who's in Control - Diabetes or You?" This is a one-time "tune-up" class held every third Thursday of the month in the Diabetes Education classroom for individuals who have had diabetes for a year or more and just want to update or fine tune their diabetic plan.

"We are also fortunate to have a diabetes support group at DGMC said Maj. Sahver Burnham, 60th Medical Group director of population health. "At present, the group meets every two months on the first Tuesday of the month from 1-2:30 p.m., where guest speakers provide relevant up-to-date information."

According to Burnham, peers provide support and practical information to each other. Diabetes support group meetings will start up again in January.

"At Travis, we have excellent resources that will assist anyone who has diabetes to stay in control of the disease as much as possible," said Burnham "A great many of these resources do not require a doctor referral since an individual can self-refer to all our classes or the diabetes educator."

Upcoming classes for 2013 are geared for individuals with Type I diabetes. Classes that will provide assistance to children with diabetes and their parents will also be offered. Watch for future announcements.

"Education and prevention become very important when a disease like diabetes continues to reach epidemic numbers, explained Maj. Kerry Barshinger, 60th MDG health care integrator for DGMC's Family Medicine Clinic. "Many credible sources point out that in the next 30 to 40 years, one in three persons may be dealing with Type II diabetes. Unfortunately, a great many of these individuals will be children under the age of 18," Barshinger said.

With the ability to get helpful information from credible sources that can help control diabetes, education becomes the mainstay. At DGMC, obtaining this information is as simple as calling and signing up for a class.

Anyone who would like more information about attending diabetes classes are encouraged to call Juanita Smith, 60th MDG registered nurse, chronic care professional and diabetes educator at 816-5505. Leave a message with your name and contact number if you wish to take advantage of these many resources.