- With Mayo Clinic diabetes educators
Nancy Klobassa, R.N., and Peggy Moreland, R.N.
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Nancy Klobassa, R.N., and Peggy Moreland, R.N.
Nancy Klobassa and Peggy Moreland
Nancy Klobassa, R.N., B.S.N, C.D.E
Nancy Klobassa is a registered nurse who has worked in diabetes education for 14 years. She is a certified diabetes educator (C.D.E.) and is currently in graduate school working on a Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.) and Health Care Education.Nancy works with adults who have type 1, type 2 and other forms of diabetes. Nancy is coordinator of the Diabetes Unit's intensive insulin therapy program within the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, Nutrition & Metabolism at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. Nancy has worked extensively with insulin pump therapy and continuous interstitial glucose sensing.
Peggy Moreland, R.N., M.S.N.
Peggy Moreland is a diabetes educator in the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, Nutrition & Metabolism at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.Peggy graduated with a Master of Science in Nursing and Health Care Education from the University of Phoenix and is a member of the American Association of Diabetes Educators and the American Diabetes Association. Peggy enjoys working with patients to set and achieve diabetes self-management goals.
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Living with diabetes blog
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April 25, 2009
Blog: Confront diabetes and change your lifestyle
By Nancy Klobassa, R.N., and Peggy Moreland, R.N.
The other day I read an article about how diabetes "saved" the author's life.
The author says that when he was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, he weighed 270 pounds on a 6'2" frame and lived a very unhealthy lifestyle.
He got up in the morning, skipped breakfast, went to work, came home and watched TV or played video games. His meals consisted of pizza, fast food, or anything that could be delivered.
Then, for about a month, he was constantly tired and thirsty. He drank lots of soda and orange juice. He began urinating frequently, and when he couldn't sleep at night due to frequent trips to the bathroom, he decided to see his physician.
He was diagnosed with diabetes, and then began worrying about all the bad things he'd heard such as amputations and going blind. He feared that was instantly going to happen to him. After seeing his endocrinologist, his feeling changed.
He took his endocrinologist's advice to confront diabetes head-on. He learned that he could control it with exercise, diet, and oral medication. Diabetes was a wake-up call. He says it was the best thing that ever happened to him. He started walking every day, and over time increased his speed and distance.
With the help of his nutritionist, he changed his diet to lose weight and keep his blood sugar down. He lost 60 pounds and says he has more energy and is more confident in himself.
Some tips for living with diabetes:
- Know about your food — you can have sweets, but timing and amount are important. If your blood sugar is already elevated or you don't have medication on board to cover it, avoid higher-carb foods.
- Eat a variety of foods.
- Pay attention to portion size and when to eat different things.
- You don't have to give up your favorite foods.
- Work with your diabetes dietician on a plan so that you can enjoy the foods you like.
- Exercise by beginning with what you enjoy whether it be dancing, walking or gardening. Incorporate as much movement into your day as you can.
Randy Jackson, the Grammy-winning "American Idol" judge, was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes several years ago. He says it doesn't have to cramp your lifestyle, but that you can't stick your head in the sand and forget that you have diabetes. He too confronted it head-on.
Has diabetes been a wake up call for you? What were your strategies for confronting diabetes and changing your lifestyle?
- Peggy
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