Denton County Living Well Magazine Spring 2015 | Page 17
Supporting People Living with Diabetes:
Texas Health Denton’s Diabetes & Nutrition Center is First in Denton County
For residents of Denton County living with diabetes, support is
now close to home. Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Denton is the first healthcare provider in Denton County to be accredited by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) for its
outpatient Diabetes & Nutrition Center. Operated by a multidisciplinary team of diabetes educators, registered nurses,
registered dietitians and physicians on the medical staff, the
center’s goal is to assist patients in developing management
skills to enhance their lifestyle.
skills needed for successful diabetes management.
Open to adult and pediatric patients across Denton County
and surrounding areas, the center offers:
Empowering patients to self-manage their diabetes can help
improve health outcomes for patients and reduce readmissions
due to non-adherence to prescribed diabetes care plans. The
program is offered on an individual or group basis, depending on the needs of the patient.
• Group and individual counseling for Type 1, Type 2, gestational
and pre-diabetes
• Availability of a pediatric endocrinologist on the Texas Health
Denton medical staff
• Child-appropriate education for pediatric patients and parents
• Instruction in insulin pump management, blood sugar monitoring
and managing medications
• Personalized nutrition counseling to fit different tastes and lifestyles
• Education on how to detect and prevent diabetes-related
complications
• Exercise, stress management and behavioral education
• Monthly support group meetings for patients and families
Support is important, and the professionals at the Diabetes &
Nutrition Center want people living with diabetes to know that
they are not alone. In fact, diabetes affects the health of 9.8
percent of the Texas population of Texas – approximately 2.6
million people, according to the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention.
“Diabetes is a chronic disease that impacts so many areas of
a patient’s life,” said Karen Bruner, R.N., CDE, diabetes program manager at the Diabetes Education & Nutrition Center.
“We are very excited to be able to provide this service for our
community. With approximately 30 percent of our admissions
here at Texas Health Denton having a diagnosis of diabetes,
the need is rising for quality diabetes education. Now, our
community has common educational classes and individualized services which will help our patients lead healthier lives.”
Comprehensive Education
The Diabetes & Nutrition Center provides comprehensive education based on the ADA’s national standards for diabetes
self-management. The center collaborates with physicians o