Helen joins Dr. Don Hardt as the CNMI’s only certified diabetes educators and enhances the ongoing efforts at Hardt Eye Clinic to “get out in front” of diabetes. “Prevention is always so much better than treatment,” says Helen. “We’ve seen so many patients suffer from vision loss and other complications even with the best treatment available. The right changes from early stages can prevent the need for surgery or laser treatment, as well as other problems like heart and kidney disease.”
Helen is a registered nurse; she graduated from Northern Marianas College in 2007 with her nursing degree and she was also the school’s valedictorian. Over the last few years Helen has spent more and more of her time concentrating on diabetes education. Dr. David Hardt says:
“We are so proud of Helen for this major accomplishment, but we are even more proud of the help she has been providing to our diabetic patients. We have seen many patients turn their lives around after working with Helen.”
In most cases, diabetes education is covered by insurance. If a patient doesn’t have insurance or it is a hardship for them to pay the insurance co-pay, Hardt Eye Clinic can still help. “If it is difficult for you to pay, you will not be turned away. We will make sure you get the care you need for whatever you can afford to pay,” Dr. Hardt says. “Nearly all of our families in the CNMI have a member with diabetes. It’s by far the most serious medical problem we have as a community. Diabetes education is an important part of the process to help people succeed in controlling this disease and we want to be sure that everyone who is affected by it receives the help they need.”
“Certified diabetes educators (known as CDE’s) are highly educated health professionals with special training and experience in diabetes. They are most commonly registered nurses, physicians, pharmacists or dietitians. Those who meet the qualifications are then allowed to take the examination to become certified by the National Certification Board and if they pass the exam, they become certified diabetes educators.
Dr. Don Hardt is one of a handful of U.S. eye doctors who are also Certified Diabetes Educators. “For years I have been sending my patients to the hospital for diabetes education,” Dr. Hardt relates, “Then the dietitian left and this was no longer available. That is why we decided to start our own program. We have seen many good people go blind and many others suffer through foot amputations, heart disease, strokes and kidney failure.
Now more of our patients can avoid these complications. With the combination of good medication and better lifestyle choices, most people with diabetes can live a long, healthy life without major complications. We work together with the primary care doctor to enhance the overall care.”
Hardt Eye Clinic also provides free transportation for patients who need this service; just give them a call to arrange for a ride. Their diabetes education is available to everyone in the CNMI. Even if a patient is receiving eye care elsewhere, they can still come in just for the diabetes education at the clinic.
Diabetes education is individualized based on the needs and interests of each patient. A common misconception that many have is that having diabetes education is like listening to a lecture. That is not the case at all; it is actually a dialogue between patient and educator with the sole purpose being to help the patient learn how to control their diabetes, to make healthier choices become a natural part of their lifestyle. The goal is to help patients find their “normal routine” with diabetes management as a part of it and helping them not feel overwhelmed. As Helen explains, “At Hardt Eye Clinic we follow the standards set forth by the American Diabetes Association. We want to help the patient and support them in making better lifestyle choices. We want to help solve problems and communicate with their entire healthcare team so that everyone is on board with the patient’s road to success.”
Areas covered by certified diabetic educators include:
• The difference between Type I and Type II diabetes and the medications and dietary changes needed to manage it.
• Nutritional management: Best food choices, individualized based on personal taste.
• Physical activity: How exercise helps manage diabetes.
• Why medications are needed and how pills and insulin work. Also using the results of blood glucose and other measurements to help manage health.
• Prevention, detection and treatment of both acute and chronic complications.
• Personal strategies to promote health and behavior change: Support and guidance in managing diabetes. CDEs can give confidence tips for speaking with doctors about managing health.
• Your CDE will support you in making informed decisions and behavioral changes, solving problems and communicating with your healthcare team.
If you have any further questions about the program, contact Hardt Eye Clinic at 235-2030.
