Diabetes and kidney disease topic at May 21 support group meeting

WARWICK — On Monday, May 21, Dr. Rachel Colvin, a board-certified nephrologist affiliated with St. Anthony Community Hospital, will explain the relationship between diabetes and kidney disease at the monthly meeting of “Diabetes in Check,” a support group open to anyone with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes.

The support group, sponsored by the Center for Diabetes Education at St. Anthony Community Hospital, will meet from 6:30-7:30 p.m. in the hospital’s second-floor conference room. The public is invited; the program is geared for all adults with diabetes and their families.

Colvin, whose office is in Goshen, will point out the dangers of improper management of diabetes and the possibility of resulting kidney disease. She will also discuss the pros and cons of available preventatives and treatments including dialysis and transplant surgery.

“This is an opportunity for us to offer a program where people with diabetes and their families and caregivers will learn the good news that those who manage their diabetes properly can control of their blood sugar and avoid more serious complications,” Lourdes Braadt, registered nurse and certified diabetes educator at St. Anthony Community Hospital, said in the press release announcing the meeting.

The Center for Diabetes Education offers a series of classes for all patients who have been recently diagnosed with diabetes or those who demonstrate poorly controlled diets. During group or individual sessions, clinical instructors offer initial assessment and emotional support, and seek to help patients achieve a better understanding of the disease. They show their patients how to live a normal and productive life with diabetes and how to control the disease through diet and exercise.

Seating is limited; anyone planning to attend is asked to reserve a place as soon as possible by calling 845-987-5168. No programs are planned for June and July.

For more information about the Center for Diabetes Education, call 845-987-5168, or visit bschs.bonsecours.com.