Diabetes is the fifth-deadliest disease in the United States, and it has no cure. The total annual economic cost of diabetes in 2002 was estimated to be $132 billion, or one out of every 10 health care dollars spent in the United States. There are 18.2 million people in the United States, or 6.3% of the population, who have diabetes. While an estimated 13 million have been diagnosed, unfortunately, 5.2 million people (or nearly one-third) are unaware that they have the disease. Emmanuel Yruma, MD Dee Thomson Registered Dietician Amy Cantrell, PA-C Certified Diabetes Educator

Care Provider Focus:
Helping those with diabetes learn to manage

In North Snohomish County, Diabetes affects nearly 6,000 of our friends and family. In every group of 100 people, six will have the disease, but only four will know it.

With so many of us affected by diabetes, Emmanuel Yruma, MD, Dee Thomson, Registered Dietician, and Amy Cantrell, PA-C and Certified Diabetes Educator, all employees of Cascade Valley Hospital and Clinics, are collaborating on a Comprehensive Diabetes Program. Using a Chronic Care Model developed by the Institute for Health Care Improvement, the program emphasizes continuous education and support for those with diabetes.

The core of the program is a series of three weekly classes. Currently these classes are free and you can sign up without a referral from your physician. (After the first of the year the classes will become American Diabetes Association certified and there will be a fee for the series. Your insurance may pay for this with a referral from your physician.)

The first class focuses on the basics of Diabetes; how it effects your body, how to monitor yourself, etc. The second is led by a dietician and is an introduction to diet plans, carbohydrate counting, how diet can help you stay on track, and more. The third class pulls all the information together. It is more of an open forum with discussion on ways to cope on a not so normal days, how to decide what to eat in a restaurant, what to do if you wake up with really high blood sugar, for example. Once you have completed the classes, you and the educator determine what else you may need to learn. You may be referred back for more one-on-one instruction or sessions with the Dietician.

In addition to the classes, with a physician referral you can make an appointment for an assessment of your condition and educational needs with Yruma, Thomson, and Cantrell at the Cascade Valley Internal Medicine Clinic. After their assessment they will advise you as to the next steps to take. If they find the need any one of them may refer you back to one off the others for more individual appointments. All during the process your primary care physician would receive reports.

"The most important part of dealing with a chronic disease such as Diabetes is leaning how to manage your own care," stated Yruma. "This program allows us the time to focus on the skills each individual needs to be able to achieve that goal."

"I agree," said Cantrell, "Someone can only be effective in controlling Diabetes if they understand what is happening to their bodies and can participate."

"I think it is very important we provide consistent diabetic education in the community," added Thomson. "Patients in this program receive the latest information and treatments available."

To join the program, or find out more information, call Cascade Valley Internal Medicine at 360-435-1148.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for educational purposes only. It should not replace a visit with your health care professional. Call your doctor if you need more information or have additional questions.

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