Learn About Diabetes

Yes, we have come a long way since we first began working in the field of diabetes education. We now know that the complications associated with diabetes can be prevented or delayed. Our growing knowledge of various foods and their effect on blood sugar levels enables people with diabetes to eat food they like, choose when and how much to eat, and still control blood-sugar levels.

It is the best time in history to have diabetes, especially in light of the difficulties our parents and grandparents would encounter had they been diagnosed decades ago. Today people with diabetes can choose from a wide variety of non-nutritive sweeteners and can even figure out how to fit sugar-containing foods into their meal plan. With carbohydrate information now readily available for most foods, diabetics can easily learn to count carbohydrates at each meal. This allows diabetics to fit virtually any food into their meal plan.

Stacie Petersen, B.S.N. and Certified Diabetes Educator will review the latest information of medications available to assist in holding blood sugar levels in tighter control.  Included in her review will be the different types of medications and the way they work in a person’s body.

Fitting diabetes into your lifestyle is the key message. Diabetes does not have to dictate how you live.  University of Nebraska–Lincoln Extension and Franciscan Care Services of West Point invite you and your family members to participate in a new and exciting diabetes educational program. The series of programs is being offered via the two-way interactive distance education facilities. Participants will learn about current issues related to diabetes from educators with over 20 years of team-teaching experience.

Monday, June 9, is the second of three programs in the “2014 Control Diabetes for Life” series. Topics that will be addressed during the two-hour program are: “Medications: What They Are and How They Work”, “Sleep Well Tonight”, and “Update on Sugar Substitutes and Sugar in Beverages” along with other helpful hints. Participants will sample a new recipe for a diabetic appropriate food. Team teaching the program will be Deborah Willcox, R.D. and L.M.N.T., and Stacie Petersen, B.S.N. and Certified Diabetes Educator both of Franciscan Care Services in West Point and Debra Schroeder, UNL Extension Educator in Cuming County.

Participants have the opportunity to attend the program from 4:00-6:00 p.m. at Wisner-Pilger, Pierce, Howells-Dodge Consolidated Schools and Ainsworth Public High Schools. The same program will be repeated from 7:00-9:00 p.m. at West Point-Beemer, Laurel/Concord, Arlington and Tekamah-Herman High Schools.

“Control Diabetes for Life” is a joint project of University of Nebraska–Lincoln Extension, Franciscan Care Services of West Point and the schools hosting the presentation. The program is offered free-of-charge. “Control Diabetes for Life” will help participants learn to control diabetes and prolong the onset of complications from the disease. These sessions are designed to supplement the education that you receive from your local diabetes education team and are not a substitute for diabetes classes through your local health care providers.

Participants are asked to pre-register for “Control Your Diabetes for Life” by calling the Burt County Extension Office at402/374-2929 Please register by Friday, June 6, so the proper number of handouts may be prepared.  Nebraska School Food Service Association has approved this session for two hours of continuing education credits for food service staff for attending.

Control your diabetes for life!  Start by attending the June 9 distance education program.  Call today to register!

Mary Loftis,

Extension Assistant
UNL Extension – Burt County
111 North 13th Street, Suite 6
Tekamah, NE 68061
Phone: (402) 374-2929

Fax: (402) 374-2930

Internet: mloftis2@unl.edu