Bridgton Hospital Diabetes Clinic earns ABES accreditation

BRIDGTON — The Bridgton Hospital Diabetes Clinic has been accredited by the Association of Diabetes and Education Specialists. Accreditation represents a high level of quality and service to the community and the ability to better meet the needs of Medicare recipients and others affected by diabetes in western Maine.

“It’s my passion,” said Elaine Drew, who has been a diabetes educator at the hospital for 34 years said. “I have great support here and I feel like we do so much for the community to help people manage their diabetes, prevent it, or if they have it, control it.”
Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States and the number one cause of kidney failure, lower limb amputation and the onset of adult blindness. Drew said those who have or are at risk for the disease have more control over it than they may realize. “Diabetes is a disease you can control,” she said. “We’re not asking people with diabetes really to do anything different than what we’re asking of the average American: eat healthy, exercise daily and avoid alcohol. If you do all those, you can live a very healthy life.”
Diabetes is caused by the body’s inability to create sufficient insulin or use the insulin that it has. Type 1 diabetes is caused by an autoimmune response against insulin-producing beta cells. Those who have it must take insulin to survive, as the body no longer produces it. Roughly 10% of those with the disease have Type 1 diabetes. The exact cause of Type 2 diabetes is unknown. While researchers believe there is a genetic component, excessive weight, age and inactivity are significant factors. Over the past 20 years, the number of Americans diagnosed with diabetes has doubled. Also alarming is the fact that only one in five of those who have it are aware of it. Drew said Americans’ increasingly sedentary lifestyles are likely driving the numbers higher. Diabetes disproportionately affects minorities, particularly Black, Hispanic and Native Americans.
For more information on Bridgton Hospital’s Diabetes Self-Management Program, call 207-647-6064.