Denton County Living Well Magazine Summer 2015 | Page 20

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.

Open to adult and pediatric patients across Denton County
and surrounding areas, the center offers:
• 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

Patients receive education and support on a wide range of
topics, including: learning to self-manage diabetes, pathophysiology, exercise, stress management, acute and chronic
complications, behavioral changes, sick day management
and reducing risk, as well as nutritional topics such as meal
planning, carbohydrate counting, eating out, portion sizes, label reading and alcohol guidelines.
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.

Tools for Success
New patients receive an initial assessment with a certified diabetes educator, where he or she is given a foot exam, a glucometer, and blood sugar monitoring guidelines, along with
an assessment of educational needs. Patients then enter a class
series offered in a group or one-on-one setting, in the afternoon or evening, covering a wide range of topics. Another
consultation at class completion assesses results and sets goals
to incorporate program elements into daily life.
“We use the strategies found most successful in evidence-based
research to show patients how to make a difference in their
daily lives,” said Timothy Harris, M.D., chief medical officer at
Texas Health Denton. “There is so much for someone with this
chronic condition to learn, and when they get the right information, it can really make a difference. Being the first location
in Denton County to be ADA certified speaks to our devotion to
Texas Health’s mission of improving the health of the peop H[