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Dana Stainbrook is used to meeting people who feel overwhelmed.
"There is a lot of denial with diabetes … minimizing it and thinking it's really not a problem," said Stainbrook, a nurse and diabetes educator with Washington Health System.
But Stainbrook's work with patients through the Diabetes Education & Management Program helps people who are both newly diagnosed and who have been living with diabetes for decades.
The majority of diabetes cases in the United States are type 2, which means insulin resistance patients, but their bodies can still produce insulin. Stainbrook's first order of business is to focus on a healthy lifestyle and they know they are in the driver's seat when it comes to managing their diabetes.
"Lifestyle, healthy eating and exercising is always going to help blood sugar management," she said. "I always try to tell them they're in the driver's seat, because it's what they do everyday that makes the difference in the world with their outcomes."
The problem, she said, is that type 2 diabetes is a progressive disease. By the time someone is diagnosed, they have lost about 50 percent of their beta cells, which are the cells in the pancreas that make insulin.
"They'll continue to lose weight, but it's a gradual loss of the body's ability to produce insulin," said Stainbrook. "So what works today is not going to be as necessary, and it is not unusual for them to require additional oral medication."
The first pieces of information Stainbrook gives to new diabetes patients are the importance of healthy eating and increasing physical activity.
"That can be a 10-minute walk after a meal or a thirty minute walk every day," she said. "They do not have to spend money on a gym membership. The best exercise to you, the best exercise, then I tell them (to) find the one that is least objectionable to them. They need to treat exercise like a medication. "
Something as simple as parking at the end of the parking lot or walking at the store, taking the steps instead of increasing the total steps of the day can make a difference in reducing insulin resistance and increasing blood sugar control , Stainbrook said.
Once patients get moving, they need to focus on their diet. However, what Stainbrook recommends for an eating plan should not be considered a "diet."
"I tell people everybody in the family should be eating the way I'm telling you to eat," Stainbrook said. "It's not a diet. It's the way everybody in America should be eating. Fresh whole foods, fresh and frozen fruits, vegetables and meats – try to stay away from the bags, boxes and cans, and keep it simple. That's just healthy eating for everybody. "
As for managing sugar and carbohydrates, Stainbrook has some simple rules. She tells patients that when they look at labels, look at total carbohydrates and not just the grams of sugar.
"If you're avoiding all carbs, all that's left is protein and fat. That's not always good, "she said. Remember that fruits and vegetables are good because they have plenty of fiber and nutrients. Carbs turn to sugar, so they eat too many carbs, their sugar will run high.
Likewise, eating too few carbohydrates can be much better.
Stainbrook said we're going to eat what's fast and convenient. If you have a bag of cookies on the counter, you'll eat them rather than peel carrots. Her tips include keeping fresh, healthy snacks in abundance and ready to eat. She tells patients that no food is forbidden, but it's all about moderation.
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Celeste Van Kirk / Observer-Reporter
In this file photo, Andie Lugg shows cooking clbad expected how to make a healthy bean salad at the Wilfred R. Cameron Wellness Center. Dana Stainbrook says eating healthy is a key to controlling blood sugar levels.
"Obviously, cake and ice cream are not good, but it's up to size," she said.
One more tip: she can not get enough of your carbs in soda and sweetened drinks. Artificial sweeteners are better than regular sugar for diabetics, but having sweet drinks can also cause you to crave them even more.
Stainbrook said the diabetes education program offers a group of individuals and groups.
"The program is designed for people who have an increase in their risk," she adds. "It's a weight-loss program for people who have a family history of disease or other indicators for diabetes."
The WHS prevention clbad meets weekly for 16 weeks, then moves into monthly meetings and is meant to help prevent diabetes.
"If you can prevent a disease, that saves everyone money and their health," said Stainbrook.
Her best advice for patients is not feel helpless or hopeless. There are many resources available to help you cope with the emotional aspect of the disease.
Stainbrook said, "I had a lady tell me last week that she had diabetes for 30 years, and she said, 'You're the first person who has given me hope that I can actually do this on my own make things better. '"
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