Plum Creek Medical Group offers personalized classes for those living with diabetes – Lexington Clipper Herald

LEXINGTON Treating diabetes is a passion for staff at Plum Creek Medical Group.

Two staff members at the clinic, physician assistant Melissa Hall and registered nurse/care coordinator Tatiana Varona manage a customized 16-week class for patients living with diabetes.

"We really saw the need in our community and in our patients to promote and teach a healthier lifestyle. Our lifestyle plays a major role in our overall health and the development and progression of chronic disease. We hope that through this program we can help our patients, and our community, live healthier and more fulfilled lives," Hall said.

Both Hall and Varona have a passion for helping people reach their goals in regards to weight and health.

They noted that diabetes and obesity are a problem nationwide. The most recent data available shows that in 2012, more than a third of adults and about 17 percent of children nationwide are obese. About 30-35 percent of Nebraskans are obese as well, according to national data.

Obesity is related to many chronic health conditions including diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease.

In 2012 more than 29 million Americans had diabetes and each year another 1.4 million Americans are diagnosed. As of 2012, 86 million Americans had pre-diabetes.

Studies show that lifestyle changes, including dietary changes and increasing physical activity, can prevent the progression of pre-diabetes to diabetes. Diabetes is more common in American Indians, African Americans and Hispanics.

"Our primary goal with this program is to prevent the progression from pre-diabetes to diabetes, or help patients better control their diabetes and high blood pressure with diet and exercise, when able. Weight loss is just another benefit of changing your lifestyle," Hall said.

The group meets weekly for 16 weeks, then monthly for the remainder of the year, for a total of 24 meetings.

The diabetes support group meetings consist of private weigh-ins and discussion on topics revolving around nutrition. They teach logging food consumed, physical activity, stress management and a multitude of other, more specific topics. Each meeting is about an hour, however with group discussion, they tend to last a bit longer, Hall said.

Hall said PCMG recommends continued regular interval follow-up with a medical provider, to continue to evaluate any chronic medical conditions.

Two key components to the class that have been crucial in helping participants who have had great results are: tracking food intake by consistently logging and increasing physical activity.

The initial goal of the diabetes group, Hall said, is to decrease the risk of developing diabetes or better manage current health conditions.

Hall said participants with the diabetes group have not only implemented healthier lifes styles but are also achieving big goals.

"We have had participants that have lost quite a bit of weight (over 50 lbs.) and continue to keep it off. We have had participants decrease the amount of medication that they take for diabetes and high blood pressure. Some have actually completely gotten off multiple medications," she said.

"But the ultimate goal, is to help those in our community live a healthier lifestyle, so they dont need to rely on medications as much, to help them reach their full health potential, and feel better," Hall said.

For more information on the diabetes class or to register, call Melissa Hall at Plum Creek Medical Group at 308-324-6386.

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Plum Creek Medical Group offers personalized classes for those living with diabetes - Lexington Clipper Herald