Health News For Champlain
Thursday, March 08, 2012
The Renfrew County Diabetes Education Program
Preparing For Your Diabetes-Focused Visit
For people living with diabetes, keeping track of diabetes information and any questions that
arise can be challenging. It is a complex disease, and good diabetes care requires preparation,
organization and follow up by both patients and their primary care providers such as a family
doctor, a specialist or a nurse practitioner.
In response to this challenge, the Canadian Diabetes Association has developed a checklist
(www.diabetes.ca/documents/about-diabetes/patientToolcontentFINAL.pdf) to help patients be
best prepared for visits with their doctor to manage their diabetes. A patient’s diabetes visits
will be more effective if they are prepared and know what to expect. For example, having
laboratory tests done before the visit will help an individual’s doctor and diabetes healthcare
team focus on next steps in the organization of a patient’s diabetes care.
Seeing the doctor only for diabetes-related issues will allow sufficient time to discuss
management of the disease and any problems or changes being experienced.
Ideally, patients should have four appointments each year dedicated solely to diabetes care,
during which blood pressure should be checked, the patient’s feet should be examined and
medications should be reviewed, among other things.
This checklist outlines a systematic approach to regular diabetes visits that will help keep an
individual’s “diabetes compass” pointing in a healthy, complication-free direction.
Learn More:
The Renfrew County Diabetes Education Team consists of Certified Diabetes Educators
(Registered Dietitians and Registered Nurses) who work in collaboration with physicians,
pharmacists, other health care professionals and family members to deliver client-centred self
managed care.
Team members are based out of hospitals and outreach sites in Arnprior (613-623-7720),
Deep River (613-584-3333, ext. 313), Pembroke (613-732-3675, ext. 6151), Renfrew (613-
432-4851, ext. 162) and Barry’s Bay (613-756-3045, ext. 240). They provide both individual
and group education and counselling for clients diagnosed with diabetes or prediabetes.
To make an appointment, call any of the sites. No referral is needed to meet with the team.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Karen Roosen, Diabetes Education Coordinator
Pembroke Regional Hospital
(613) 732-3675 ext. 6530 / karen.roosen@pemreghos.org
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