Importance of Type 2 Diabetes Management in Elizabethtown, KY

Managing Your Diabetes

Jodie Thomas, APRN, Diabetes Care
Baptist Health Hardin
Rosie Crabb, Elizabethtown, Kentucky

Jodie Thomas, APRN:
Diabetes is a chronic condition. Normally, your food is broken down and it's turned into glucose. When that glucose is released into the bloodstream, it stimulates the pancreas to make insulin. If the pancreas is not making insulin properly, then the glucose cannot get into the cells to use for energy. If that occurs, then you have increased fatigue, increased hunger, increased urination, increased thirst. More than 37 million Americans have Type 2 diabetes. It's the eighth leading cause of death, but also is No. 1 in death for lower limb amputations, kidney failure and blindness. That's why it's so important to get it under control.

Some simple steps that one can take to avoid or manage their diabetes are lifestyle changes, exercise, eating a healthy diet, and keeping a healthy weight. We want to keep blood pressure under good control to prevent heart attack and stroke. We want to keep cholesterol at a good level as well. Also, if they're smoking, I would encourage them to stop smoking. We have a dietitian here in our office. We have a diabetic nurse educator. We also offer diabetic education classes for the patient. We will teach patients how to read labels, how to count their carbohydrates, [and eat a] low-carb, low-sugar diet. We give them the tools to be successful in their diabetes.

Rosie Crabb:
I couldn't imagine just managing this by myself at home. This is a team effort. The providers here are wonderful. This is the first place I've ever been where it feels like I'm not being punished for my blood sugar levels.

Jodie Thomas, APRN:
We here at Baptist Health Hardin can reduce our patients' comorbidities. I find great pleasure in treating patients with diabetes. I treat them like my own family member. I want them to know that I am here for them and any questions or concerns that they may have.