Beginning with Diabetic Education

1.5 million Americans are diagnosed with diabetes every year and 84.1 million Americans age 18 and older have prediabetes, a condition where blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not yet high enough to be diabetes. Learning how to control diabetes or prediabetes is a patient’s first step toward feeling better and living a longer, healthier life.

Diabetic Nurse Educator Bev Cotton, RN, and Registered Dietitian Katy VanderWal offer diabetic education at Brookings Health System to help patients with diabetes or prediabetes learn to adjust their lifestyle and control their condition. 

“Education is important,” says Cotton. “You may feel fine, but diabetes slowly damages the body. Studies show that diabetics who have education on how to manage their condition have better outcomes.”

When a physician first diagnoses diabetic or prediabetic patients, the physician almost always refers them for self-management classes, one session with Cotton and the other with VanderWal. In these classes, patients gain a basic understanding of diabetes and self-management using diet, exercise and medication. Patients learn about carbohydrate servings, often referred to as carbs, and how to moderate them throughout the day. Cotton and VanderWal teach patients how to monitor blood glucose and what range their glucose counts should be. Other learning topics include the signs and symptoms of low blood sugar and how to treat it as well as the complications and risks associated with diabetes and how to prevent them. 

“No one’s situation is alike so we tailor our education to each individual’s needs,” said VanderWal. “We also help patients to problem solve and to find solutions so they can manage their condition in ways that fit their lifestyle.”

But diabetic education isn’t only after first-time diagnosis. It’s also good for patients to have annual refresher courses. In addition, physicians can refer patients for education when problems arise.

“For patients who need extra help controlling their diabetes, we have continuous blood glucose monitoring systems. A tiny sensor is inserted under the skin to check glucose levels in tissue fluid,” said Cotton. “It’s worn for seven days and provides real-time measurements of glucose levels every five minutes.”

Patients who wear a continuous blood glucose monitoring system are asked to keep food and exercise logs. Cotton and VanderWal then compare the logs to the data gathered by the monitor. They find patterns and trends in the data which may pinpoint why patients experience glucose spikes or lows. Cotton and VanderWal help patients troubleshoot and find solutions to keep their glucose under tight control. 

“Hearing you’re diabetic or prediabetic isn’t easy,” says VanderWal. “But education is a great start to managing your condition and living your best life possible.”

Want to learn more about diabetic education? Visit brookingshealth.org/diabetes or email diabetes@brookingshealth.org.