Alabama
Community Diabetes Support Group
"When I asked for help, the Diabetes Program was there. They gave me the support I needed to take control of my diabetes."
- Regina Whiteplume
I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 1984. My father, my grandmother and my older brother all passed away from complications of diabetes. A few years ago when my blood sugars were out of control, I became concerned but I really didn’t know what to do bring them down. After hearing about the Diabetes Program I decided to call them and ask for help so I could try learn more about diabetes and what I could do to motivate myself to get control.
In 2009 I started going to the diabetes education classes with my oldest son who had recently been diagnosed with diabetes. Over the years I had heard some basic things about the disease but it couldn’t compare with the diabetes education I received in the program. The educators are very knowledgeable and know how to work with people to get the messages across and I didn’t miss a single class. Now I understand more about how diabetes affects my health. I’ve been able to make many healthy changes in the amounts and kinds of foods I eat and I exercise more. The small, slow changes I have made over time are working for me. I have lost almost 30 pounds and I can walk longer distances. I am now more in control of my blood sugars and lately, I’ve noticed that I feel stronger, have a lot more energy and find myself moving more. I think there are many people in our community that really don’t know what they can do to control their diabetes and be healthier. I want everyone to know what I learned from the diabetes Program - that it’s never too late to start taking care of yourself and learning what you can do to get control of diabetes and avoid dialysis and amputations.
Diabetes Program Participants
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Diabetes Care Providers
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