FARMINGTON – Are you overweight, tired, thirsty, or experiencing frequent trips to the bathroom? Are you always hungry, yet showing signs of sudden weight loss? Do your fingers and toes tingle or go numb?
If you answered “yes” to any of the above, Nancy Thomas, RN, CDE, a certified diabetes educator at Franklin Memorial Hospital suggests that you consult a physician because you may be experiencing symptoms of diabetes. If a diagnosis is made, your physician may suggest diabetes education, medication, and lifestyle modifications.
Diabetes is a group of diseases marked by high levels of blood glucose resulting from defects in insulin production, insulin action, or both. People with diabetes, working together with their health care providers, can take steps to control the disease and lower the risk of complications.
According to Maine Centers for Disease Control, diabetes affects approximately one in ten Mainers, and an estimated 32,264 of Maine residents have diabetes but don’t know it. If left undiagnosed or untreated, diabetes can lead to serious health problems, including heart attack and stroke.
Women who are pregnant are also at risk for developing diabetes according to Dr. Connie Adler, a provider at Franklin Health Women’s Care. “Six to seven percent of pregnancies are complicated by the development of pregnancy-related (gestational) diabetes. This condition has consequences for both mother and baby including: large babies, a risk of the baby needing IV support after delivery, and increased chance that the mother will develop diabetes later in life,” she said.
“Pre-Diabetes is a condition that occurs prior to onset of type-2 diabetes and if identified can serve to motivate people towards healthy lifestyle changes that prevent its progression to type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes occurs typically in children and young adults. It is a chronic disorder in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin. Blood sugar levels are controlled with insulin given by injection or insulin pump,” said Thomas. “Technology for diabetes care has evolved a great deal to help people live long healthy, though sometimes challenging lives.”
For individuals living with diabetes, one-on-one and group structured diabetes self-management training is offered at Franklin Memorial Hospital and at some Franklin Health medical practices and taught by registered nurses and a dietician who are also diabetes educators. Patients learn about the roles that exercise, nutrition, blood sugar monitoring, medications, carbohydrate counting, and meal planning play in controlling their diabetes.
Besides Thomas, diabetes educators also include: Nancy Taylor, RN; Eileen Caffrey, RN, CHC; Jeannine Lake RN, CDE; and Katie Drouin, RD, LD.
Other diabetes management services offered include: continuous glucose monitoring, insulin pump training and assistance, and diabetic foot exams.
For additional information on diabetes self management, call Franklin Health Internal Medicine at 778-4922
