Diabetes Education Overview

Millennium Physician Group provides a certified diabetes education program. Our program is recognized by the American Diabetes Association and meets the national standards for diabetes self-management education. Individual and group education, as ordered by your physician, is available by appointment. For more information you may call our office and ask to speak to our full time Certified Diabetes Education Nurse.

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November is American Diabetes Month

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention released statistics showing diabetics have more than quadrupled since 1980 with 5.6 million, to 23.6 million in 2009. *Over 6 million of them are unaware they have the disease.

Tell Your Story, Help a Good Cause

Nutrisystem will donate $5 to the American Diabetes Association for every story shared on StopDiabetes.com, up to $100,000. Click on the website or logo to participate.

About Diabetes

Diabetes means that the blood sugar, also called glucose, is too high. Glucose is ingested by the foods we eat and stored in our body’s muscles and liver. The glucose is needed for our body to have energy. Insulin helps get the glucose from your blood to your cells. The pancreas is responsible for the production of the insulin. Diabetes is a result of the pancreas not producing enough insulin, or if the cells develop a rejection to the insulin produced. This issue may require the use of insulin injections or pills to help compensate for what your body is lacking to produce naturally. The cause of diabetes continues to be a mystery, although both genetics and environmental factors such as obesity and lack of exercise appear to play a significant role.

Often going undiagnosed because many of its symptoms seem so harmless, recent diabetes studies indicate that the early detection of diabetes symptoms and treatment can decrease the chance of developing complications with this disease.

Some diabetes symptoms include:

• Frequent uriniation
• Excessive thirst
• Extreme hunger
• Unusual weight loss
• Increased fatigue
• Irritability
• Blurry vision

If you have one or more of these diabetes symptoms, see your doctor right away.

***The Millennium Physician Group Diabetes Education program is recognized by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and adheres to national standards for diabetes self-management education. Our team members are certified diabetes educators (CDEs). You can schedule an appointment by contacting the Millennium Physician Group at (941) 255-3535.

Action Steps to Prevent Diabetes

• Make Healthy Food Choices. Eat more vegetables, fruits, fish, lean meats, dry beans and peas, whole grains, and low-fat or skim milk and cheese. Choose water to drink.
• Reduce Portion Sizes. Try putting less on your plate, or using a smaller plate. Eat meals at the table instead of in front of the TV. Eat slowly using smaller utensils may force your to take smaller bites.
• Move more eat day. Park your car further out in the parking lot. Use the stairs instead of the elevator. Take your dog for a walk. Ride bikes with the kids. Deliver a message to a co-worker by hand instead of emailing.
• Nurture your mind and body daily. Find ways to relax. Listen to music you enjoy. Schedule time for yourself every day, like reading a book or taking a bath.

Visit www.mypyramid.gov for more menu planners and other helpful information.

What is Your Body Mass Index?

BMI is a ratio of a person’s weight to height. Because obesity plays such a large roll in the cause of diabetes, being aware of your BMI is important.

How is your BMI determined?

BMI = 705 x Body weight (in pounds)

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Height (in inches) x Height (in inches>

Example: A person who is 5 feet 2 inches (62 inches) and weighs 150 pounds has a BMI of 27.5.

1 foot = 12 inches, therefore 5 feet 2 inches = 62

BMI	WEIGHT CATEGORY
Less than 18.5	Underweight
18.5 - 24.9	Normal Weight
25 - 29.9	Overweight
30 and Above	Obese

Diabetes: Type 1 & Type 2

Do You Know the Difference?

Click Here to see the difference between the two types of diabetes.

Glucose Charts

Open and print the Glucose Chart for a Diabetic

Open and print the Glucose Chart for a Non Diabetic

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Certified Diabetic Education Program

Get:

• The knowledge, skills and attitudes you need to achieve and maintain EXCELLENT control of your diabetes.
• Individualized diet and exercise plans.

Learn:

• Latest information on diabetic medications.
• Short and long term complications of diabetes.
• Proper use of your glucometer and monitoring your sugars.
• Strategies for losing weight, nutritional requirements, carbohydrate counting and meal planning.
• Emergency planning.

Our Expert Panel:

• Sheila Foley”, RN, CDE - Lead Educator
• Rowe Hudson, RD, CDE - Dietitian

Testimonials:

"I have learned so much with these classes" - David M. patient
"My sugars have never been better" - Janet P., patient
"My sugar control has improved from way too high to normal thanks Sheila" - John S. patient
"The program and the instructors were so helpful" - Carla D., patient

This diabetes self-management Education program has been awarded Recognition by the American Diabetes Association in accordance with the National Standards for Diabetes Self-Management Education Programs.

Get a FREE Glucometer just for attending the class!

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Diabetes Facts & Statistics

Mortality

• Diabetes is the 5th leading cause of death in America.
• Overall, the risk of death for people with diabetes is about 2 times that for people without diabetes.

Prevalence

• 20.8 million Americans have diabetes, although 6.2 million of those are undiagnosed.
• Each day, approximately 2,200 people are diagnosed with diabetes.
• Type 2 diabetes accounts for up to 95 percent of all diabetes cases, affecting 8 percent of the population age 20 and older. The prevalence of type 2 diabetes has tripled in the last 30 years, much of it due to an upsurge in obesity.
• Diabetes afflicts 120 million people worldwide, and the World Health Organization estimates that number to skyrocket to 300 million by 2025.

Economic Impact

• The annual cost of diabetes in medical expenditures and lost productivity climbed from $98 billion in 1997 to $132 billion in 2002.
• The per capita annual costs of health care for people with diabetes rose from $10,071 in 1997 to $13,243 in 2002, an increase of more than 30 percent. In contrast, health care for people without diabetes amounted to $2,560 in 2002.

Direct Costs

• In 2002, the direct cost of diabetes was estimated at $91.8 billion – 19 percent of total personal healthcare expenditures.
• In 2002, approx. $40.3 billion was spent for inpatient hospital care and $13.8 billion for nursing home care.
• Diabetes-related hospitalizations totaled 16.9 million in days in 2002. Rates of outpatient care were highest for physician office visits, which included 62.6 million visits to treat persons with diabetes.
• In one study, the average length of stay for patients with a primary diagnosis of diabetes was 56% shorter for team-managed patients (team to consist of a physician, nurse and a dietitian, at least one of whom is a Certified Diabetes Educator) than for patients managed by an internist alone and 35% shorter than for patients seen only by an endocrinologist. Note: primary care physicians currently provide 80-95% of diabetes care.

Indirect Costs

• In 2002, the indirect cost of diabetes was estimated to be $39.8 billion.
• In 2002, diabetes accounted for a loss of nearly 88 million disability days.
• In 2002, 176,000 cases of permanent disability were caused by diabetes, at a cost of $7.5 billion.

Benefits of Diabetes Education

• The Diabetes Prevention Program study (2002) showed that participants (all of whom were at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes) who made lifestyle changes reduced their risk of getting type 2 diabetes by 58%.
• “Training in self-management is integral to the treatment of diabetes. Treatment must be individualized and must address medical, psychosocial and lifestyle issues.”
• “At least 10 million Americans at high risk for type 2 diabetes can sharply lower their chances of getting the disease with diet and exercise.”

Impact on Minority Populations

• African Americans are 1.7 times as likely to have type 2 diabetes as the general population. An estimated 2.3 million, or 10.8% have diabetes.
• # Hispanics are almost twice as likely to have type 2 diabetes. As an example, it affects 1.2 million, or 10.6% of the Mexican American population.
• The overall prevalence of type 2 diabetes in Native Americans is 12.2% vs. 5.2% of the general population. In some tribes, 50% have the disease.

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Breast Cancer Awareness

2009 Breast Cancer Awareness Report

Download the Word Document Report Here

All women are at risk for breast cancer – even those who don’t have a family history of the disease. That’s why it’s important to remind the women you know – your mother, aunt, grandmother, best friend, daughter – of the facts about breast cancer.

Finding It Early Matters

Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in women. In fact, one of every eight women will develop the disease. While we are learning more and more about breast cancer, a woman’s best defense is finding the cancer at its earliest, most treatable stage. Today, the best method of early detection is a three-pronged approach: annual mammograms for women starting at age 40; clinical breast exams by a health care professional annually for women age 40 or older, every three years for women in their 20s and 30s; breast self-examinations optional for women starting in their 20s. If you are 40 or older, mammograms are extremely important, because they can detect abnormalities in the breast several years before you or your doctor can feel a lump.

There is Help

If breast cancer has touched your life, you are not alone. The American Cancer Society offers a wide range of information to help patients and their families make decisions about their treatment. The Society also has a number of programs to help patients and family cope with the disease, including a program that matches patients with survivors who have “been there.”

The American Cancer Society Recommends Women do the Following:

• Get annual mammograms starting at age 40.
• Have yearly clinical breast examinations by a health care professional close to the time of your mammogram beginning at age 40, as well as continue your monthly self examinations.
• Receive clinical breast examinations from a health care professional every three years between the ages of 20 and 39.
• Begin monthly breast self-examinations at age 20 (optional).

If you or someone you know has been touched by breast cancer, or if you’d like to join the fight, contact your American Cancer Society 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 1-800-ACS-2345 or visit their Web site at www.cancer.org.

Early Detection of Breast Cancer Saves Lives

Finding breast cancer early can save lives. Breast cancer can also be treated successfully. Treatment is most successful when breast cancer is detected early, before it has spread to the lymph nodes. For this reason, the Murdock Family Medicine / Millennium Physician Group and the American Cancer Society recommend the following guidelines for finding breast cancer early:

• Women age 40 and over should have a mammogram every year.
• Between the ages of 20 and 39, women should have a clinical breast exam (CBE) by a health professional every 3 years. After age 40, women should have a CBE every year.
• The CBE should take place before the mammogram so any detected abnormalities can be evaluated more carefully.
• It is optional, but recommended, that all women over 20 years of age do breast self examinations (BSEs) every month.
• Women who have a family history of breast cancer should talk to their doctor about when to start screening.

BSEs can help a woman become familiar with how her breasts normally feel so, when a difference is noticed, the doctor can be contacted. The earliest sign of breast cancer is an abnormality that shows up on a mammogram before it can be felt by the woman or her health care provider. When breast cancer grows, physical signs and symptoms may exist. These include a breast lump, thickening, swelling, distortion, or tenderness; skin irritation or dimpling; and nipple pain, scaliness, ulceration, or retraction. Breast pain is commonly due to benign conditions and is not usually the first symptom of breast cancer.

Mammography is especially valuable as an early detection tool because it can identify breast abnormalities that may be cancer at an early stage before physical symptoms develop. Numerous studies have shown that early detection saves lives and increases treatment options. The declines in breast cancer mortality have been attributed, in large part, to the use of regular screening mammography.

For information on breast cancer, call Murdock Family Medicine in Charlotte and Sarasota County at 941.255.3535, and Millennium Physician Group in Collier County at 239.249.7800, or visit www.familymedicine.us.

Mammograms Save Lives from Breast Cancer

Mammography is an invaluable tool in the fight against breast cancer because it can identify breast abnormalities that may be cancer at an early stage before physical symptoms develop. In an effort to help women have effective mammograms, the American Cancer Society has developed eight tips for a good mammogram.

1. First, ask to see the FDA certificate that is issued to all facilities meeting high professional standards of safety and quality.
2. Use a facility that either specializes in mammography or performs many mammograms a day.
3. Once satisfied the facility is of high quality, continue to go there on a regular basis so your mammograms can be compared from year to year.
4. If you decide to change facilities, ask for old mammograms to bring with you to the new facility so these may be compared to new mammograms.
5. It’s best to schedule your mammogram at a time of the month when breasts will be least tender.
6. Don’t wear deodorant, powder, or cream under your arms as this may interfere with the quality of the mammogram.
7. Bring a list of the places, dates of mammograms, biopsies, or other breast treatments that have been performed in the past.
8. And, remember, if you do not hear from your physician within 10 days, do not assume your mammogram was normal. Confirm this by calling your physician or the facility.

Breast Cancer Screening FACT Sheet

• Breast cancer is a malignant tumor that develops from cells in the breast.
• The most common sign of breast cancer is a new lump or mass, although most breast lumps are benign (not cancerous).
• Other physical signs include a generalized swelling of part of a breast (even if no distinct lump is felt); skin irritation or dimpling; nipple pain or retraction; redness or scaliness of the nipple or breast skin; or a discharge other than breast milk.
• An estimated 211,300 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to occur among women in the United States during 2003.
• An estimated 39,800 women and 400 men will die of breast cancer in 2003.
• Among American women, breast cancer is the most common form of cancer (excluding skin cancer), accounting for more than 30 percent of all cancers in women.
• Risk factors that increase the chances of developing breast cancer include:
  o Being a woman.
  o Being older than age 40. Approximately 77 percent of women with breast cancer are age 50 or older at the time of diagnosis.
  o Having a mother, sister, or daughter with breast cancer approximately doubles a woman’s risk. However, studies also show that only 5 percent of breast cancer cases result from inherited cancer producing genes.
  o Never giving birth, or giving birth after age 30.
  o Having a long menstrual history (starting monthly periods before age 12 and starting menopause after age 55).
  o Use of alcohol, especially two or more drinks daily.
  o Obesity, especially excessive weight gain after menopause.
  o Physical inactivity.
  

The earlier breast cancer is found, the better the chances for successful treatment. A mammogram is the best detection method because it can often identify breast abnormalities that may be cancerous before physical symptoms develop. However, some cancers that are not apparent on a mammogram may still be felt by a woman or her health care provider.

Five Things to Tell Your Friends About Breast Cancer

1. All women are at risk for breast cancer, even those who have no family history of the disease.
2. The two greatest risk factors for breast cancer are being a woman and growing older.
3. Survival rates are high for women diagnosed with an early stage breast cancer, when the cancer is small and has not spread. Get regular mammograms beginning at age 40, and start clinical breast exams by your doctor at age 20. Although it is optional, monthly breast self examinations are also recommended.
4. Smart strategies to reduce your risk of breast cancer include regular physical activity, maintaining a healthy weight, and limiting alcohol intake.
5. As women are becoming more educated about breast cancer, death rates for the disease are dropping. Tell your female friends, family members – any woman you care about. You could save a life.

For more information about breast cancer, or to find out how you can help in the fight against cancer, contact the American Cancer Society at 1-800-ACS-2345 or visit their Web site at www.cancer.org.

This Breast Cancer Awareness Report has been provided to you on behalf of Murdock Family Medicine / Millennium Physician Group with 34 physicians in 17 locations scattered throughout Charlotte, Sarasota and Collier Counties. Please visit our website at www.familymedicine.us for a listing of doctors and locations.

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