St. Anthony's Center for Diabetes Education now offering spring group classes

WARWICK — The spring group education curriculum hosted by St. Anthony Community Hospital’s Center for Diabetes Education is now in full swing. Classes began April 10 and will continue through June 28. The series of classes is designed for all patients who have been recently diagnosed with diabetes or who have demonstrated poorly controlled diets. Before attending classes, the patient’s physician first issues a prescription for the education program services. After an initial consultation with one of the Center’s clinicians, the patient will then be scheduled for group education and/or individual sessions. The classes are offered by certified diabetes educators throughout the entire year on a variety of days and times to accommodate individual needs. Course titles include Meal Planning and Carbohydrate Counting and a refresher class titled Update and Review of Self-Management and Meal Planning. During group or individual sessions, the clinical instructors offer initial assessment, emotional support and strive to help patients achieve a better understanding of the disease. The patients learn how to live normal and productive lives with diabetes and how to control the disease through diet and exercise. Classes are held in the second floor conference room at the hospital. The Diabetes Support Group meets in the third floor conference room at noon on the fourth Wednesday of each month. Last year, an analysis of all patients admitted to St. Anthony Community Hospital during the first quarter of the fiscal year revealed that 28 percent of all discharged patients had a diagnosis of “diabetes” added during their hospitalization. Another study also estimated that one out of every 12 residents of southern Orange County would be diagnosed with diabetes through routine screening. Every year, Diabetes kills 180,000 Americans. The disease dramatically increases the risk of heart attack and is a leading cause of blindness, kidney failure and amputations. In its determination to serve all the healthcare needs of this community, St. Anthony Community Hospital opened its Center for Diabetes Education in January of last year. In addition to classes, the Center offers a wide variety of programs and services aimed at public awareness of diabetes including regularly scheduled community screening programs, special lectures and workshops. The Center is staffed with certified diabetes educators, registered dieticians and registered nurses. A team of healthcare experts has been trained to provide specialized care and education for those living with diabetes as well as their families. All programs and services at the Center for Diabetes Education are conducted under the advisement of board-certified medical doctors and healthcare professionals. In partnership with the patient and his or her physician, the Center offers a wide variety of programs and services utilizing the latest advances in technology and treatment. Anyone interested in learning more about the outpatient education program should contact the Center for Diabetes Education; the call-in number for physicians and patients is 987-5168.