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Personal Experience of Living with Diabetes to be Shared

05/12/2008

For Immediate Release

The Centers for Disease Control estimate that more than 20 million Americans have diabetes of which six million are unaware they have the disease. What you may not know is Lamoille County has the second highest rate in Vermont for diabetes. On Wednesday, May 21st Copley Hospital Diabetes Educators Loretta Schneider, RN and Nancy Wagner, RD are pleased to host a special presentation featuring guest speaker Doreen Bugai. Bugai will share her own experiences of living with diabetes and will provide helpful insights on successfully managing the disease, stating �I have diabetes and understand the challenges one faces.� Bugai notes that diabetes patients need to know they are not alone and there are people like herself who can help them along their journey with the disease. Her presentation will focus on challenges and obstacles to maintaining and �Taking Control�.

Diabetes is a serious chronic disease. This free presentation will cover topics that include:

Achieving good glucose control
Learning about effective self-management
Developing a balanced, healthy lifestyle
Planning and prioritizing diabetes management
Overcoming fears surrounding diabetes
Finding resources for diabetes support

Whether you have just found out you have diabetes or have been dealing with it for years, you can live a long, active life. Schneider and Wagner provide both one-to-one education as well as group classes at Copley Hospital. �Our goal is to provide participants with the tools and resources in order to live a healthy lifestyle and feel better,� states Wagner. �Bugai, by sharing her real life struggles and challenges with diabetes, connects with others living with diabetes in a way no one else can. We are delighted to have her be part of our Diabetes Education program at Copley.�

What is Diabetes? Diabetes is a disease in which blood glucose levels are above normal. People with diabetes have problems converting food to energy. After a meal, food is broken down into a sugar called glucose, which is carried by the blood to cells throughout the body. Cells use insulin, a hormone made in the pancreas, to help them convert blood glucose into energy.

People develop diabetes because the pancreas does not make enough insulin or because the cells in the muscles, liver, and fat do not use insulin properly, or both. As a result, the amount of glucose in the blood increases while the cells are starved of energy. If not controlled, diabetes can lead to serious complications such as heart disease, stroke, nerve damage, kidney failure and blindness. �The longer diabetes goes on without treatment, the greater its potential for harm,� continued Wagner.

Copley�s Diabetes Education team specializes in the treatment of diabetes. Their work is a team approach that includes the patient�s provider. In addition to on-site offerings Wagner and Schneider provide screenings at local businesses as part of Copley�s on-going outreach efforts. To register for this free session schedule for May 21st from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. or for more information on diabetes contact Copley�s Diabetes Educators at 802-888-8226.

Contact Information
Leah Hollenberger
Senior Director Development, Marketing and Public Relations
Copley Health Systems
802-888-8301
lhollenberger@chsi.org