Franklin Memorial Hospital offers diabetes self-management training

FARMINGTON – Franklin Memorial Hospital’s diabetes program, designed to give participants general knowledge of diabetes and help them learn to self-manage the disease, starts this month March with one-on-one counseling sessions and a three-part diabetes self-management class, according to a release from the hospital.

The program’s goal is to assist those with diabetes in maintaining or improving quality of life, and introducing them to a diabetes support system, the release said.

Nancy Taylor and Eileen Caffrey, registered nurses and diabetes educators, will provide one-on-one counseling sessions for participants to assist them in making individualized goals. During the classes they will provide an overview of diabetes, its disease process, treatment options, glucose monitoring, physical activity, and ways to prevent complications. Katie Drouin, a registered licensed dietitian, will create individualized meal plans and review carbohydrate counting during her one-on-one counseling sessions. Her class presentation will include menu planning, dining-out guidelines, strategies for healthy eating, and dietary management for glucose control.

A primary care physician referral is needed in order to participate, the release said. All participants will meet with a diabetes educator and dietitian before starting the classes. For more information contact Drouin at 779-2656.