Diabetes Education Week
There are a lot of resources out there, take advantage of them.
Good morning. This is Dr. Joe Cincotta. This first week of November is designated as Diabetes Education Week. I do not think there is another chronic medical problem that requires more patient participation for success than diabetes. This is a problem that cannot be cured but can be effectively managed to prevent complications through the work of many people. The central member of this team is that patient who must be committed to a lifelong program of learning, monitoring, regular medical care, nutrition, exercise, and possibly medication. Other key participants include the physician, a variety of other health care professionals, and the patient's family. We are fortunate today that so much information on diabetes care is accessible, and that it is available from so many sources. (Examples of education resources include classes sponsored by several local hospitals, literature from your physician, from the Web, or from the American Diabetes Association, to name a few.) But ultimately it is up to the patient to use those resources to become expert in his or her own care. If you have diabetes, please continue to learn and use what you learn to stay healthy. Thank you.