| |
|
|
| |
|
What is Diabetes? |
| |
|
Diabetes is a chronic condition in which a person has high blood sugar.
Type 1 diabetes is when the body cannot produce insulin, a hormone that is needed to get blood sugar (glucose) into the body's cells.
Type 2 diabetes is when the body's cells are insulin-resistant, thus not allowing glucose into the cells.
These are the two most common forms of diabetes, but there are also less common forms such as gestational diabetes and congenital diabetes, among others.
|
Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes, which impacts the body’s production of insulin causing sugar to build up in your blood. It is a serious condition that can lead to several health issues.
Prediabetes means that the blood glucose (sugar) level is higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. If you have prediabetes and do not lose weight or do moderate physical activity, you can develop type 2 diabetes within five years.
You are at increased risk for developing prediabetes and type 2 diabetes if you:
- Are 45 years of age or older
- Are overweight
- Have a family history of type 2 diabetes
- Are physically active fewer than three times per week
- Ever had diabetes while pregnant (gestational diabetes) or gave birth to a baby that weighed more than nine pounds
If you think you may be at risk, a health care provider can do a blood test to see if you have diabetes or prediabetes.
Diabetes Prevention Program
If you have prediabetes, now is the time for prevention. Mid Coast Hospital’s Diabetes Prevention Program can help you take charge of your health to prevent or delay type 2 diabetes. As part of the program, you will work with other participants and a trained lifestyle coach to learn the skills you need to make lasting changes. These changes include losing a modest amount of weight, being more physically active, and managing stress.
The program meets for a year — weekly for the first six months, then once or twice a month for the second six months to maintain healthy lifestyle changes. During each session, your lifestyle coach will teach a lesson and lead a group discussion.
Mid Coast Hospital’s Diabetes Prevention Program is part of the National Diabetes Prevention Program, led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Diabetes Education
Our Diabetes Self Management Training and Nutritional Counseling programs are designed to empower participants to take an active role in successfully managing their diabetes.
Services offered include:
- Diabetes education
- Intensive diabetes management
- Insulin pump training
- Continuous glucose monitoring
- Injection instruction and insulin management
- Individualized nutritional counseling
- Gestational diabetes education and management
The American Diabetes Association recognizes Mid Coast Hospital’s diabetes education program as meeting the National Standards for Diabetes Self-Management Education.
Diabetes education services are covered by third party insurance including Medicare and MaineCare.
|