Diabetes Education

Young woman stretching in bed after waking up

More than 18 million Americans have diabetes

If you have recently learned that you or someone in your family has diabetes, you are probably concerned. But diabetes is a manageable condition. In fact, most people can live as full a life as they did before developing diabetes. Diabetes is a complex disease requiring daily self-management – making healthy food choices, staying physically active, monitoring your blood sugar, and taking medications as prescribed by your doctor.

Diabetes is an ongoing disease that affects over 11% of people in the United States. Memorial Health System is proud to help Southwest Oklahomans with our LCHC diabetes management clinic. We teach patients and their families how to manage diabetes. Managing includes knowing what tools to use and how to use them for your treatment. It is also important to talk regularly with your diabetes management team to problem-solve, reduce risks of complications, and cope with lifestyle changes.

Our team provides evidence-based nutrition counseling and diabetes education for a wide range of conditions and patient needs, including:

Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (Type 1, Type 2, and Prediabetes)
Gestational Diabetes
Medical Nutrition Therapy for Chronic Disease Management
Weight Management and Healthy Lifestyle Counseling
Bariatric Surgery (Pre- and Post-Operative Nutrition Counseling)
Heart-Healthy Nutrition
Kidney Disease Nutrition

Fatty Liver Disease (MASLD/NAFLD)
Gastrointestinal (GI) Disorders
Autoimmune Diseases
Oncology (Cancer) Nutrition Support
General Nutrition Counseling
PMOS

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a condition that occurs when your blood glucose—often called blood sugar—is consistently too high. Glucose is your body’s main energy source, coming both from the foods you eat and your body’s natural processes.

Insulin is released by your pancreas and plays a key role in turning blood sugar into energy for your body. If you have diabetes, your body either doesn’t produce enough insulin or can’t use it effectively. When the insulin in your body isn’t functioning as it should, too much blood sugar stays in your bloodstream which could lead to life-threatening health conditions.

The three most common types of diabetes are Type 1, Type 2, and Gestational Diabetes.

Type 1

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease where the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, resulting in little to no insulin production. While typically diagnosed in children and young adults, this condition can develop at any age. Managing Type 1 diabetes requires daily insulin therapy.

Type 2

Type 2 diabetes, the most common form of the condition, occurs when your body’s cells don’t respond effectively to insulin. Over time, the pancreas may struggle to produce enough insulin to maintain healthy blood sugar levels. Factors like family history, age, lack of physical activity, and weight can increase your risk.

Gestational

Gestational diabetes is a temporary form of diabetes that develops during pregnancy. While it typically resolves after your baby is born, having this condition increases your lifetime risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. In some cases, diabetes discovered during pregnancy may actually be Type 2 diabetes.

Symptoms of Diabetes

Part of diabetes management involves knowing what the signs are and what your body is telling you. Because diabetes affects your blood sugar, your body goes through physical changes that indicate irregularities in your blood sugar. The symptoms of diabetes include:

EUrinating often
EOverly thirsty
ESlow healing wounds
EBeing moody

EFatigue
EBlurred vision
ETingling hands and feet

If you are experiencing one or more of these symptoms, it may be time to speak with your doctor about getting a blood sugar test.

Diabetes Clinic

Were you or a loved on recently diagnosed, or do you want to explore more options for managing diabetes? Our Lawton Community Health Center Diabetes & Endocrinology Clinic is ready to help with not only diabetes education and management, but thyroid disorders, metabolic disorders, podiatry and more!

In order to participate in the services of our diabetes clinic, you must have a referral from your primary care physician.

Visit the LCHC Website