This spring, 20 Local 223 active members, retirees and their spouses participated in the first of its kind onsite Pilot Diabetes Self Management Education Program. On July 30, a majority of the attendees participated in the first post-pilot follow-up assessment.  The assessment included a finger poke, vitals, and drawing blood to check for cholesterol, triglycerides, AC1 and LDL levels.  After the assessment, each participant met with nutritionist for a one-on-one consultation to get ideas of how to continue to make progress.  Each person received a $25 Visa gift card for participating in the check-in assessment.

It is important for those who participated to complete the assessment so that the study can track the results of the pilot program.  The program includes four follow-up visits at three months, six months, 12 months and 24 months. The follow-up visits include a brief meeting to review what was learned in the program and will also include an assessment to track the progress of participants. This same information will be tracked throughout the Diabetes Self Management program and for the two years following graduation to see how participating in the program helped.

Local 223 members attended four, 2-hour weekly classes to teach participants how to manage and prevent diabetes.  Classes were held at Local 223 Union Hall. The program was facilitated by an experienced team of Certified Diabetes Educators, Registered Dietitians, Certified Wellness Coaches and Exercise Specialists.

Class topics included:

• Adjusting to living with diabetes
• Meal planning and label reading
• Medications
• Monitoring blood glucose
• Balancing stress
• Physical activity
• Preventing diabetes complications
• Managing sick days

Local 223 partnered with Blue Cross Blue Shield and Medical Network One to offer this program. Prior to the 2010 negotiations, Local 223’s Executive Board held a Healthcare Symposium as part of its ongoing efforts to rein in healthcare costs and to find new ways to improve the health of our union sisters and brothers. The symposium included a presentation on a diabetes self management education program that aims to improve diabetic control through patient education. This program is a first-of-its-kind pilot introduced after four years of research and development. Diabetes education programs help patients understand their condition and then can how to control it. The Diabetes Self-Management Education Program offers the latest diabetes health information for individuals with diabetes and their caregivers. Knowledge and understanding of diabetes is the key to maintaining a healthy lifestyle and reducing the risk of medical complications.