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Hungerford Diabetes Center stages Diabetes Boot Camp
This intensive, highly programmed, three-day weekend retreat was held at Litchfield’s Wisdom House Retreat Center and featured a series of lectures, equipment demonstrations, interactive group sessions, Glucose monitoring, and the development of individualized exercise and meal plans. It was developed and presented by staff members at the Hungerford Diabetes Center including Endocrinologist and the Center’s Medical Director Egils Bogdanovics, M.D., Certified Diabetes Nurse Educator Lois Pelletier RN, CDE, Christine Pinette, APRN, BC-ADM, CHH Chief Dietician Carla Angevine, and social worker Karen Cornell, MSW. Equipment specialists also offered valuable information and demonstrations throughout the weekend. Dr. Bogdanovics and staff have been working on the original concept and development of the Boot Camp for three years, and were very pleased how the program came together for the patients. “Our hope is that this program will be an enlightening and motivating experience for those involved and will lead to the critical lifestyle changes needed to ensure good health and nutrition. We felt a weekend away for patients to allow them to solely concentrate on the latest in Diabetes education and management was the best approach.” he said. “A key to success in managing diabetes is education and awareness.” added Diabetes Nurse Educator Lois Pelletier RN, CDE. Six men and 10 women all with Type 1 Diabetes (formerly referred to as Juvenile Onset Diabetes which requires insulin) that are current and past Diabetes Center patients were chosen to participate at no cost. Some are seasoned at controlling their disease, and others are recently diagnosed patients. Some patients wanted to be trained on insulin pump therapy and desired a weekend "trial" of insulin pumping practice.
Weekend lectures included the History of Diabetes, Exercise and Insulin, Coronary Artery Disease prevention, Carbohydrate Counting, Pump Initiation, and Hypoglycemia treatment for Type 1 Patients. The spouses of the participants attend a Saturday afternoon educational session to learn how to recognize the symptoms and challenges of their partner’s diabetes. That evening, keynote motivational speaker Marine Officer Norman Meikle of the Coventry Police Department addressed the gathering. Participants learned rowing techniques on Bantam Lake courtesy of Litchfield Hills Rowing Club and took a hike through Topsmeade State Forest. Exercise instructor and CHH Chief Dietician Carla Angevine led calisthenics after which finger stick glucose tests were conducted to demonstrate the effect of physical activity. Specialized rowing equipment was brought to the Wisdom House for rowing exercise and training. Throughout the weekend, participants wore continuous blood glucose monitors that record blood glucose every 5 minutes for up to three days. The data was then reviewed in a group setting. Organizers agreed that reviewing the various factors influencing the individual’s blood glucose benefitted the entire group. Participants were very receptive to the weekend retreat, stating it was a great opportunity for them meet others with Diabetes who are going through similar challenges. Many also noted it was helpful to be away from the house and work for the weekend to concentrate solely on their health without interruption. Some made new friends and all learned something new. Follow-up and future monitoring of the attendees will be a key aspect of ensuring that the camp was a success. Patients began the program by completing a pre-assessment that asks about their exercise habits, nutritional habits and taking a baseline Hemoglobin A/C blood test. In three months, participants will repeat the assessment and blood test. Then at 6 months and 9 months, additional assessments and blood tests will be repeated to evaluate if the Boot Camp had a positive behavior change on their life and their diabetes control. The Center is planning to offer future Boot camps that will also involve patients with Type 2 Diabetes, formerly referred to as "Adult Onset Diabetes". Organizers would like to seek support from alternative funding sources and insurance companies to help defray the costs of the future programs. This program was supported by funding and in-kind gifts from The Charlotte Hungerford Hospital and the Litchfield Hills Rowing Club and corporate support and grants from NovoNordisk, Lifescan, and Medtronic that provides CHH with insulin pumps and continuing glucose monitors. Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life. According to the American Diabetes Foundation, there are 23.6 million children and adults in the United States, or 7.8% of the population, who have diabetes. While an estimated 17.9 million have been diagnosed with diabetes, 5.7 million people (or nearly one quarter) are unaware that they have the disease. "One in every three children born in the United States will develop Diabetes in the future. This is why it is imperative that we all develop a better awareness and understanding of this serious healthcare problem and its correlation to healthy weight maintenance.," said the Center’s Medical Director Egils Bogdanovics, M.D. The Hungerford Diabetes Center offers a comprehensive multi-disciplinary approach to diabetes treatment and management. The team of board certified diabetes physician specialists, certified diabetes educators, registered dietitians, and social workers are specifically trained to help people with diabetes avoid complications and maintain better health throughout their lifetime. Posted 5/1/2009 |
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World Diabetes Day Proclaimation at Hungerford Diabetes Center
The evening began with Torrington Mayor Ryan Bingham designating November 14, 2007 as "World Diabetes Day" in support of a 2007 UN Resolution. "I encourage all Torrington residents to help fight this disease and its life-threatening complication by increasing awareness of the risk factors for diabetes. By increased awareness, we can save thousands of lives each year." proclaimed Mayor Bingham. It is estimated that of the nearly 21 million children and adults in the U.S. who have diabetes, more than 3 million have been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. To stay alive, people with type 1 diabetes must take multiple insulin injections daily or continually infuse insulin through a pump and test their blood sugar. Diabetes is a serious disease that affects the body's ability to produce or respond properly to insulin, a hormone that allows blood glucose (sugar) to enter the cells of the body and be used for energy. It is the fifth deadliest disease in the U.S. and it has no cure. The prevalence of diabetes is at least 2-4 times higher among ethnic minorities and the risk for diabetes also increases with age. "One in every three children born in the United States will develop diabetes in the future. This is why it is imperative that we develop a better awareness and understanding of this very serious healthcare problem." said Egils Bogdanovics, MD, Medical Director at The Charlotte Hungerford Hospital's Diabetes Center. The Hungerford Diabetes Center at the Charlotte Hungerford Hospital is a team of professionals specifically trained to help people with diabetes learn how to reduce diabetes-related complications and maintain better health. The multidisciplinary team includes an Endocrinologist, a Nurse Practitioner, Certified Diabetes Educators, a Registered Dietician, and a Social Worker. For more information, call 496-0661. Posted 11/15/2007 |
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Hungerford Diabetes Center Receives Generous Gift from Harwinton Lions Club
"It is without a doubt that the Harwinton Lions Club has touched the lives of thousands of people faced with the daily and often long term complications of diabetes. We are extremely grateful to the Harwinton Lions Club for assisting us in making this important new advancement in Diabetes monitoring available to the members of our community affected by Diabetes," says Lois Pelletier, RNCDE, and Program Coordinator of the Hungerford Diabetes Center. "We like to support local causes with the funds we raise, and many members and their families of our club benefit from the services at the diabetes center." said Harwington Lions Club President Robert W. Wesneski. He added that the club's recent fundraisers including a concert and golf tournament over the summer helped raise the funds. The donation will help the center purchase the newest in technology devices that can help patients, better than ever before, manage the disease. One device is a new continuous glucose monitor that allows patients to see their blood sugar value constantly and most importantly know when their blood sugars are rising or falling too quickly. The monitor gives an updated reading every 5 minutes and tracks previous readings that can be downloaded to a computer allowing a view of the full picture of where blood sugars are at all times. Much of the "mystery of diabetes" management is uncovered with the use of these devices and changes can be made to make treatment and ultimately, control, better. The Hungerford Diabetes Center at the Charlotte Hungerford Hospital is a team of professionals specifically trained to help people with diabetes learn how to reduce diabetes-related complications and maintain better health. The multidisciplinary team includes an Endocrinologist, a Nurse Practitioner, Certified Diabetes Educators, a Registered Dietician, and a Social Worker. For more information, call 496-0661. Posted 1/15/2007 |
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The Hungerford Diabetes Center Receives $1,000 Donation from Harwinton Lions Club
‘We are extremely grateful to the Harwinton Lion’s Club for assisting us in helping the members of our community affected by Diabetes,” says Lois Pelletier, RNCDE, and Program Coordinator of the Hungerford Diabetes Center. Pelletier joined the staff at The Charlotte Hungerford Hospital in 1999 as Diabetes Program Manager, and served as Education Coordinator of the Joslin Diabetes Center affiliate at CHH. The Hungerford Diabetes Center is located at 780 Litchfield Street, Torrington, CT and is part of The Charlotte Hungerford Hospital’s Health and Disease Management Department and Hungerford Healthcare Network. Opened in 1999, this state of the art facility provides diagnostic, examination, meeting, exercise and educational space for our clients. The Center’s multidisciplinary team includes an Endocrinologist, a Nurse Practitioner, Certified Diabetes Educators, a Registered Dietician, and a Social Worker who assist people with diabetes learn how to reduce diabetes-related complications and maintain better health. Posted 4/1/2006 |
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The Hungerford Diabetes Center Receives Harwinton Lions Donation for Advanced Technology
‘We are extremely grateful to the Harwinton Lion’s Club for assisting us in making this important new advancement in Diabetes monitoring available to the members of our community affected by Diabetes,” says Lois Pelletier, RNCDE, and Program Coordinator of the Hungerford Diabetes Center. Pelletier joined the staff at The Charlotte Hungerford Hospital in 1999 as Diabetes Program Manager, and served as Education Coordinator of the Joslin Diabetes Center affiliate at CHH. The donated funds will be used to purchase supplies needed for the Center’s two Continuous Glucose Monitors, a system that utilizes a sensor placed under the skin of a Diabetes patient that allows up to 288 glucose readings per day. The monitor generates a detailed report on the patient’s blood sugar control patterns and assists in pinpointing specific causes of fluxuations in these levels, helping to both educate and motivate patients to better understand the causes and effects of their daily activities and eating habits. “By identifying the interactions between meals, exercise, medication and insulin on glucose values, we can now make more informed decisions about adjustments to our patient’s medication or insulin.” says Egils Bogdanovics, M.D., Endocrinologist and Medical Director of The Hungerford Diabetes Center. Dr. Bogdanovics will be speaking about the monitor and Diabetes health at a free informational program sponsored by the Hungerford Diabetes Center on Tuesday, November 16, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Winsted Area Ambulance Association Headquarters, 655 Main Street, Winsted. The Hungerford Diabetes Center is located at 780 Litchfield Street, Torrington, CT and is part of The Charlotte Hungerford Hospital’s Health and Disease Management Department and Hungerford Healthcare Network. Opened in 1999, this state of the art facility provides diagnostic, examination, meeting, exercise and educational space for our clients. The Center’s multidisciplinary team includes an Endocrinologist, a Nurse Practitioner, Certified Diabetes Educators, a Registered Dietician, and a Social Worker who assist people with diabetes learn how to reduce diabetes-related complications and maintain better health. Posted 10/31/2004 |
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Team CHH Walks to Cure Diabetes!
Posted 9/25/2004 |
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