NewView offers certified diabetes self-management classes
If you are diabetic, you' re at risk of vision loss. That's why NewView Oklahoma offers a program to educate people with diabetes about managing their illness and reducing the risk of diabetes-related eye conditions.
New View is only one of three low vision rehabilitation centers in the U.S. to have a program accredited by the American Association of Diabetes Educators (AA DE ), according to Marlene Snow, a licensed occupational therapist for NewView who teaches the classes.
“This accreditation raises the bar of our diabetes education program,” Snow said. “This is one more way that we provide comprehensive services to our clients.”
Snow said the program is comprised of four, three-hour sessions which cover the “AADE 7 Self- Care Behaviors” established for certified instructors. The behaviors are healthy eating, being active, monitoring, taking medication, problem solving, reducing risks and healthy coping.
Snow incorporates lowvision techniques into all of her sessions, ensuring that classes are accessible to those who already live with visual impairment. These include medication and monitoring, using different adaptive devices to measure blood sugar, blood pressure and medication.
Classes incorporate individualized goal-setting and skills training, including hands-on skills like marking a glucose meter with high-contrast tape so it's more visible and creating a diabetes kit so patients can easily find supplies.
“If our patients can't cook healthy meals or read their meter, then they're much more likely to experience al apse in diabetes management,” Snow said. “We use a lot of talking devices most diabetes educators don't even know about.”
One of the three-hour sessions includes preparing a healthy meal in NewView's kitchen using adaptive devices for low vision individuals. “I introduce a lot of things to show them how to make a healthier meal,” Snow said.
Recent program participant Stacey Stuckwish said the cooking class was something she really enjoyed .“We got to cook in an Instapot and an air fryer and learn
new recipes that were lower car band diabetic friendly,” she said.
Stuck wish was diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy in 1995 and lost her eyesight in 1998. She said she learned a lot in the New View classes and appreciated hearing what others do to manage their diabetes. She is grateful that insurance covered the program cost.
“I've been a diabetic for 43 years, and even though I know a lot about diabetes, there's always new stuff to learn,” Stuckwish said. “Plus, the fellowship is really great.”
New View President and CEO Lauren Branch said Snow spearheaded a year long program
development and application process for accreditation by AADE. Snow, who has a Master of Occupational Therapy degree, also serves as the program' s quality coordinator, verifying program requirements. These include developing a well-trained team and standardized curriculum, setting individual goals with participants, and incorporating stakeholder input.
“This program fills a major gap in the diabetic community ,” Branch said. “Diabetic patients are at a higher risk for eye diseases like diabetic retinopathy, macular edema and glaucoma. Much of what prevents patients — especially those with low or no vision — from adhering to a care and maintenance plan is the lack of education.”
Participants come away from the program with healthy cooking and eating habits, tips on exercise and staying active, better monitoring of their diabetes, along with better medication management, better problem solving skills and skills to cope with the disease and reduce its risks.
“When I do their initial assessment, they set goals for themselves, at l east two goals ,” Snow said. “That might be healthier eating, increased physical activity — maybe exercise at least 3 times a week — or monitoring at least one time a day.”
The program is open to anyone diagnosed with diabetes. The next session begins on Aug. 9 with follow-on sessions weekly on August 16, 23, and 30. Classes are held f rom 1 to 4 p.m. at New View Oklahoma's rehabilitation center at 4301 N Classen Blvd.
Early registration is encouraged because space is limited. Cost of the program is covered by Medicare a nd most third- party insurances. Learn more by emailing Marlene Snow at msnow@ newviewoklahoma.org or by calling 405-604-3417.
Since 1949, NewView Oklahoma has empowered individuals facing vision loss, maximizing their opportunities to live life without limits. NewView provides comprehensive services throughout all stages of a person's life as they navigate life without sight. New View is also the largest employer of blind and vision impaired individuals in the state of Oklahoma.
For more inform ation, visit online at www. newviewoklahoma.org or follow on Facebook and on Twitter.