Proper Diabetes Management Through Education
Recognizing Diabetes
Speak to your doctor if you have one or more of the following signs of diabetes:
- Frequent urination
- Excessive thirst
- Unexplained weight loss
- Extreme hunger
- Sudden vision changes
- Tingling or numbness in the hands or feet
- Fatigue
- Very dry skin
- Frequent infections
- Sores that are slow to heal
For more information, please call one of the Memorial Diabetes and Nutrition Centers:
Memorial Regional Hospital
(954) 265-5889
Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital
(954) 265-2234
Memorial Hospital West
(954) 844-6801
Memorial Hospital Miramar
(954) 538-4517
Memorial Hospital Pembroke
(954) 963-8013
November 2005 — Diabetes can strike anyone from children to expectant mothers to elderly adults. More than 18 million Americans are diabetic, and nearly one-third of them don’t even know they have the disease.
Complications of diabetes can include kidney disease, heart disease, high blood pressure and blindness. Memorial Healthcare System’s inpatient and outpatient diabetes programs focus on self-care skills and improving quality of life for diabetic adults and children. Outreach services include community screenings and free support groups.
Memorial Diabetes and Nutrition Centers are located at Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood, Memorial Hospital West and Memorial Hospital Pembroke in Pembroke Pines, and Memorial Hospital Miramar in Miramar. All are accredited by the American Diabetes Association.
“Newly diagnosed patients and their families are often frightened by the realities of diabetes,” says Teddy Speropoulos, Director of Memorial Diabetes and Nutrition Centers. “We start our diabetes education with a personalized initial assessment, which focuses on each patient’s lifestyle, food preferences and medical complications.”
After an initial assessment, a diabetes patient learns how to cope with and understand the disease through:
- Glucose Monitoring — Keeping blood sugar (glucose) at the recommended level prevents hyperglycemia (high blood sugar), hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and other medical complications.
- Meal Planning — Counting carbohydrates (sugars and starches found in foods such as breads and pasta) and tracking other foods allows patients to have more control and flexibility in their diets.
- Medication — Familiarity with types of treatments (such as oral medication, insulin injectables and insulin pumps) increases awareness of options.
- Exercise — Exercising helps the body use glucose more productively and aids in weight control.
- Foot Care — Learning proper foot care can prevent complications later in life.
- Education — Making behavioral changes and having a full understanding of diabetes assists in managing the condition and improving overall health. Diabetes education is provided by Certified Diabetes Educators who are recognized by the National Certification Board of Diabetes Examiners.
Once patients are referred to us by a physician, we encourage them to learn all they can,” Speropoulos says. “After their initial assessment and education, they can return for assistance or even help others in our support groups.”
If you are concerned about diabetes and would like a referral to a physician, please call Memorial Physician Referral Service toll-free at (800) 944-DOCS. We’re available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.