Diabetes Center Educates Teacher to Manage Her Disease
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As a person with diabetes, Sandra Cook must be careful around all that holiday food.
"I used to be able to eat a whole piece of pumpkin pie," says Cook. "But now I have to split it with my husband, which can be frustrating," she laughs. "I still want the whole piece!"
Cook, a part-time elementary school teacher, was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes and was referred to Southeast Missouri Hospital's Diabetes Center by physician Deanna M. Siemer, MD. There, Cook took part in the BASICS curriculum offered by the International Diabetes Center. The program includes four sessions conducted over six months with particular emphasis given to proper nutrition, exercise, monitoring for blood glucose control and medication therapy. |
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Notes Cook, "It's a program that gave me the tools to understand and properly read food labels. The diabetes team guided me in the way that I need to be guided." Cook says having diabetes doesn't mean she has to deprive herself of her favorite foods. Instead, she just eats them in smaller portions.
"My family and I still go out to eat," she points out. "If I have fries, I'll share half of them with someone else. The longer I have diabetes, the more comfortable I am with it and the better I am at watching my diet."
Cook's physician, Dr. Siemer, says she refers patients to the Diabetes Center because "the center staff has the time to do diabetes education justice."
"I tell my patients that diabetes is a lifelong project we're going to work on together. I always want them to get the education at the center because it empowers them. It gives them the knowledge and the power to do well with this disease," says Dr. Siemer.
As for Cook, she says the new exercise and diet routine has helped her lose weight and have more energy. "I have five grandkids, so I have to be energetic around them," she says. "Plus, it never hurts to have a smaller pants size."
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