Health Hints & Happenings from Pentagon City Hospital

One-Stop Education: New Diabetes Center Has It All

In Arlington County an estimated 11,000 people live with diabetes. One-third of them don’t even know it — and they’re at serious risk.

If improperly managed, diabetes can cause dangerous medical complications, including blindness, heart disease, stroke and kidney disease.

Pentagon City Hospital is taking action to address the problem. In November, the hospital opened a new Diabetes Treatment Center. Specializing in outpatient education, the Center provides self-management training, community education, and support groups to help local residents and their physicians manage their diabetes.

“Our goal is to help people with diabetes live healthier, longer, fuller lives,” said MaryAnn Griffin, Program Director for the Diabetes Treatment Center. “To do so, we use a state-of-the-art, coordinated education approach recommended by the American Diabetes Association.”

The Center’s interdisciplinary team of nurses, dieticians, certified diabetes educators and counseling specialists ensures that patients receive comprehensive care and education. Upon physician referral, patients can attend classes on a range of topics, including nutrition, preventing complications, blood glucose monitoring and insulin pumps.

The Center also provides hemoglobin A1c testing, which everyone with diabetes should have at least twice a year. Measuring average blood glucose levels for the prior two to three months, this test is the best way to determine if diabetes is under control.

As for advances, the Center will remain on the cutting edge. Part of the nation’s largest network of specialized diabetes centers — Diabetes Treatment Centers of America — the Center will have access to the latest diabetes management tools as soon as they become available.

To learn more about diabetes, or to schedule a free blood glucose screen, call (703) 553-2444.

Self-Management Class Keeps Diabetes Under Control

For people living with diabetes, managing blood glucose levels is crucial. Maintaining levels that are close to normal requires learning about diabetes and applying that knowledge every day. But, it can be difficult and people have a hard time making the necessary changes in their behavior.

The self-management class offered by Pentagon City Hospital’s new Diabetes Treatment Center is designed to help these patients improve their self-management and find the motivation to stick with it.

“Being with others in a class setting really strengthens motivation and helps people with diabetes successfully manage their disease,” said MaryAnn Griffin, Program Director for the Diabetes Treatment Center. “We encourage spouses and significant others to attend the class for free, to help families handle diabetes together, and to make sure patients have all the support they can get.”

The basic self-management class, which is four and one-half hours long, covers a range of helpful information, including an overview of diabetes, basic nutrition, complications, and goal setting. The class also provides a Hemoglobin A1c test and a Carville foot screen.

At the conclusion of the class, each patient schedules in-depth educational modules based on his or her individual needs. The modules include topics such as meal planning, monitoring, stress management and exercise.

After patients complete these modules, they return for a follow-up session two to three months after the initial class. Beyond the group sessions, the Center’s team of health care professionals also provides individual attention to address personal challenges.

“The bottom line is that we do what it takes to make sure our patients have the knowledge, skills and support to manage their diabetes effectively,” said Griffin. “Good self-management can make a huge difference in the length and quality of a patient’s life.”

The Diabetes Treatment Center offers self-management classes regularly during the week and one Saturday each month. Classes and educational materials are also available in Spanish.

For more information on this or any Diabetes Treatment Center service call (703) 553-2444.