Diabetes care: Changes during the last 20 years
Pat Kawlewski was diagnosed with diabetes almost 50 years ago. She shares how diabetes care has changed during her 20 years as a diabetes nurse educator with Allina Medical Clinic.
Diabetes education
Then: Diabetes education was done in the hospital. After a patient was diagnosed with diabetes, he or she might stay in the hospital for one to two weeks and have diabetes education for two hours a day.
"I used to go to the patient's room to teach them how to manage their diabetes," said Kawlewski. "Sometimes, the patient wasn't feeling well or up to learning, but they were expected to learn and understand."
Now: Diabetes education is mainly done in the clinic setting and has become more personalized.
"I ask patients to tell me about their lifestyle, and we will make it fit. We are here to help patients learn how to live with diabetes and prevent complications."
Diet
Then: Patients had to eat a certain number of calories from different food groups. This didn't leave a lot of room for people to include their favorite foods. Sweets were considered bad to eat.
Now: Patients can create meal plans around what they like and don't like. Sweets are just like other carbohydrate foods and can be worked into meal plans. Patients can also make meal plans for certain needs, such as losing weight or lowering cholesterol.
Emotions
Then: Diabetes educators recognized the effects of emotions, such as a patient being devastated after their diagnosis, but didn't have the training or tools to help patients.
Now: Diabetes educators are trained to help patients learn to live with diabetes. Patients are encouraged to learn at their own pace and to identify when they are ready to make changes that will help their diabetes.
Managing diabetes
Allina Medical Clinic - Diabetes Education can help you manage diabetes every step of the way. For more about this program accredited by the American Diabetes Association, call 1-866-904-9962 and ask about Allina Medical Clinic sites offering diabetes education.
Awareness and support
Then: Patients sometimes didn't want anybody else to know they had diabetes. They didn't want to talk about it either.
Now: Patients are encouraged to talk about having diabetes with their family, friends, even co-workers. They are also encouraged to bring a support person with them to diabetes education classes.
"Patients today are much more educated. They research on the Internet and bring in the information they have found to talk about it," said Kawlewski. "Diabetes isn't a secret anymore. Patients who have diabetes are encouraged to get more support."
Dialog home page
Diabetes support groups Where can I get help in managing my diabetes?
Source: Pat Kawlewski, diabetes educator, Allina Medical Clinic
First published: 02/08/2010
Last updated: 02/08/2010
Reviewed by: Mary Frederick, RN, MS, CDE, diabetes program manager, Allina Medical Clinic - Diabetes Education; Dawn McCarter, RN, BSN, CDE, diabetes program coordinator, Allina Medical Clinic - Diabetes Education
|