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10
HEALTHY LIFE: DIABETES
November 11, 2012
Now that you have
Type 2 diabetes:
HERE’S
WHAT TO
DO NEXT
By RAY PITZ
Pamplin Media Group
W
hile getting a diagnosis of
Type 2 diabetes is dis-
heartening, it isn’t the
end of the world. In fact,
the lifestyle changes needed to cope
with the disorder are going to benefit
you in the long run.
The keys to dealing with the disease
could include everything from taking
certain medication to maintaining a
healthy diet and getting plenty of ex-
ercise.
And of course, monitoring your dia-
betes is important as well.
Along the way it’s also good to talk
with someone who has experience
with the disease.
Two such people are Nan Fitz Ger-
ald, a registered nurse and diabetes
educator, and Melissa Jacobson, a reg-
istered dietitian and diabetes educa-
tor. Both work for Legacy Weight and
Diabetes Institute in Portland.
Fitz Gerald said that when a newly
diagnosed patient arrives at the insti-
tute, a doctor may place them on med-
ication and encourage them to pur-
chase a good blood glucose monitor.
“The meters are becoming more
fast and slick,” Fitz Gerald pointed
out. The advantages of some of the
new devices are that they take less
blood, cause less pain, and are quick
and easy to use.
With many patients soon discover-
ing how their blood sugar levels drop
after getting on a healthy diet and en-
gaging in regular exercise, many
health care professionals encourage
them to check their blood glucose
three or four times a day, just to show
them how well they are doing. The
idea is positive reinforcement, getting
that immediate feedback, said Fitz
Gerald.
Still, even diet and exercise might
not be enough, and a certain medica-
tion, or insulin may be necessary.
If there’s a family history of Type 2
diabetes that raises the risk of getting
the disease as will, “on top of that it
becomes a lifestyle thing,” according
to Jacobson, the dietitian.
■
Keys to dealing with the disorder include a healthy diet and exercise
PAMPLIN MEDIA GROUP: JONATHAN HOUSE
See Page 10
PAMPLIN MEDIA GROUP: JONATHAN HOUSE
Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center nurse Nan Fitz Gerald uses a peddling machine
while working. She advocates the same routine for her diabetes patients, many of whom
would not otherwise be exercising at all.
PAMPLIN MEDIA GROUP: JONATHAN HOUSE
Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center dietician Melissa Jacobson
shows how many packets of sugar are contained in a 44 oz. soft
drink. Jacobson helps patients with Type 2 diabetes improve their
diet.