Box Butte General Hospital: Services- Diabetes Education - Diabetes Healthcare and Treatment Centers in NE

Box Butte General Hospital: Services- Diabetes Education

The Diabetes Education Program at BBGH has a Certificate of Recognition from the American Diabetes Association. This certificate means the program meets national standards for diabetes self-management education. The hospital’s Diabetic Education Program first became a certified program in January 2006.

The Program is designed for Type I or Type II Diabetes, Gestational, and Pre-diabetes.

What does the Diabetes Educator do?
1. Assessment of the patient: What is this patient's greatest fear or difficulty in managing his diabetes? Access patient’s prior knowledge/perception of diabetes.
2. Teach the use of various blood monitoring systems.
3. Perform foot examinations.
4. Teach the importance of daily foot exams and good foot care.
5. Review of medications and their effectiveness.
6. Teach the patient about medications and proper usage, including injection.
7. Monitor injection sites and teach rotation.
8. Assess the psychological impact of diabetes on the patient and family members.
9. Teach the importance of current immunizations.
10. Teach sick day management.
11. Provide individual nutrition assistance.
12. Teach the signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia and the treatment of each.
13. Teach the long term complications of diabetes and how to prevent or minimize.
14. Teach the importance of regular examinations by the Medical Provider and the importance of routine lab work including cholesterol, creatinine, glycohemoglobin, A1C, urine microalbumin and liver function.
15. Teach the importance of smoking cessation.
16. Teach the importance of exercise in controlling blood glucose and weight management.
17. Assist and teach what and how to make life-style changes and set goals.
18. Refer to Medical Provider or other areas of healthcare as directed.

The Program has two Certified Diabetic Educators: Sue Steele, RN CDE; and Kristin Kesterson, RD, LMNT, CDE

Diabetes Education Support Group
Classes are held the second Thursday of every month in the Medical Arts Plaza Sandhills Conference Room, between 5:30 and 6:30 p.m., unless otherwise noted. There is no charge for classes. Contact Kesterson or Steele at 308-762-4357, extension 3416 or 3338.

2101 Box Butte Ave., Alliance, Nebraska, 69301, (308) 762-6660

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