More than 2,000 people a year with prediabetes or diabetes are seen at the Diabetes Health Center. The program focuses on proactive symptom and lifestyle management. "We help people identify and correct whatever obstacles are getting in their way," says Marc Sandberg, MD, FACP, CDE, medical director of the Diabetes Health Center (DHC) at Hunterdon Medical Center.

One 26-year-old woman came to the center in 2005 with Impaired Fasting Glucose (IFG), a significant risk factor for diabetes. Three months after nutrition and exercise counseling, she lost 11 pounds and re-established normal blood glucose levels.

Key factors in the prevention and control of diabetes are education, monitoring, medications, stress management, exercise, and nutrition. To support patients in these areas, the Diabetes Center offers a variety of lifestyle-changing programs, such as the "Smart Cart Personal Shopper" for grocery-shopping assistance, and the "Weigh-To-Go" weight-loss program for children aged 10 to 14. Other programs include cooking, stress management, yoga and support groups.

"These programs help people reduce their risk of the long-term complications of diabetes," adds Carolyn Swithers, RN, BSN, CDE, the director of the Diabetes Health Center.

High blood-sugar levels may seriously endanger patients, prolong hospital stays and increase morbidity. In response, the center has successfully implemented guidelines for monitoring patients' blood-sugar levels throughout the hospital.

The center also provides community outreach and education initiatives, such as the generous grant bestowed by sanofi aventis in 2005 to provide bilingual nutrition education and counseling to the Hispanic population, which is a high-risk group for diabetes.

"We provide a multidisciplinary outreach to our diabetes community, which helps them to make healthy choices," says Ms. Swithers. "We would not be able to provide these extensive initiatives if it were not for the supportive atmosphere at HMC."

For more information, please call 908-788-6568. More than 2,000 people a year with prediabetes or diabetes are seen at the Diabetes Health Center. The program focuses on proactive symptom and lifestyle management. "We help people identify and correct whatever obstacles are getting in their way," says Marc Sandberg, MD, FACP, CDE, medical director of the Diabetes Health Center (DHC) at Hunterdon Medical Center.

One 26-year-old woman came to the center in 2005 with Impaired Fasting Glucose (IFG), a significant risk factor for diabetes. Three months after nutrition and exercise counseling, she lost 11 pounds and re-established normal blood glucose levels.

Key factors in the prevention and control of diabetes are education, monitoring, medications, stress management, exercise, and nutrition. To support patients in these areas, the Diabetes Center offers a variety of lifestyle-changing programs, such as the "Smart Cart Personal Shopper" for grocery-shopping assistance, and the "Weigh-To-Go" weight-loss program for children aged 10 to 14. Other programs include cooking, stress management, yoga and support groups.

"These programs help people reduce their risk of the long-term complications of diabetes," adds Carolyn Swithers, RN, BSN, CDE, the director of the Diabetes Health Center.

High blood-sugar levels may seriously endanger patients, prolong hospital stays and increase morbidity. In response, the center has successfully implemented guidelines for monitoring patients' blood-sugar levels throughout the hospital.

The center also provides community outreach and education initiatives, such as the generous grant bestowed by sanofi aventis in 2005 to provide bilingual nutrition education and counseling to the Hispanic population, which is a high-risk group for diabetes.

"We provide a multidisciplinary outreach to our diabetes community, which helps them to make healthy choices," says Ms. Swithers. "We would not be able to provide these extensive initiatives if it were not for the supportive atmosphere at HMC."

For more information, please call 908-788-6568.