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There are 18 million people in the United States who have diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association. Diabetes causes the body to not produce or properly use insulin, a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life. There are two types of diabetes: type 1 is an autoimmune disease that often begins in childhood; type 2 diabetes, the most common form, is a metabolic disorder that may be affected by lifestyle factors such as an unhealthy diet, obesity and lack of exercise.  Unfortunately today, type 2 diabetes is being seen in children as well as adults.

Almost 90% of all people with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes are overweight. “Anyone who is 45 years old, or has a family history of diabetes and is more than 20 percent overweight, should be tested for diabetes on a regular basis,” recommends Bobbie Anderson, RN and Certified Diabetic Educator at Desert Regional Medical Center.

“The Body Mass Index is agood indicator if a person is simply overweight or truly obese,” explains Dr. Bhasker-Rao, Bariatric Surgeon at Desert Regional Medical Center.  Your physician can calculate your Body Mass Index and then recommend diet and exercise, if needed. Some patients who are seriously obese (100 pounds or more overweight) may choose gastric bypass surgery to lose large amounts of weight.

At Desert Regional Medical Center, weight management is part of an overall diabetes self-management program.  In fact, Desert Regional Medical Center has received the prestigious American Diabetes Association Education Recognition Certificate for its quality diabetes self-management education program. This three-year recognition certificate was awarded to DRMC for having a staff of knowledgeable health professionals that provide participants with comprehensive information about diabetes self-management.

The Diabetes Care Center program consists of a series of lectures and demonstrations given to both newly diagnosed people and those wanting to learn how to better manage their diabetes. “We help patients learn how to monitor their glucose levels, read food labels correctly, design healthy meal plans and incorporate exercise into their daily routines,” says Bobbie. “Our program offers individual consultations for adults and juveniles, as well as screenings, outpatient classes and support groups.”

Patient education is a very important component of the Diabetes Care Center program

For information about the Diabetes Care Center program at Desert Regional Medical Center, call (760) 323-6880.