Aspirus Divine Savior Hospital and Clinic is restarting a Diabetes Support Group in Portage designed to help people manage their diabetes. 

Held the first Thursday of each month starting November 3, the Diabetes Support group is designed to provide participants with resources to better manage diabetes. 

The Aspirus Divine Savior Diabetes support group is recommended for:
Adults with type 2 diabetes
Adults with type 1 diabetes 
Adults with pre-diabetes
Adults living with someone who has diabetes. 

Discussion topics will include nutrition and lifestyle, blood sugar monitoring, stress management and coping, medication management, exercising with diabetes, risk reduction and healthy coping. 

“We are excited to bring this popular support group back to the community after pausing during the COVID-19 Pandemic,” said Emily Kraemer, a clinical dietitian at Aspirus Divine Savior. “While this support group should not replace your regular visit with your primary care clinician, it will provide participants with ongoing support and education.”

More than 37 million Americans have diabetes according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and The American Diabetes Association estimates that 8.5 million of the 37.3 million that have diabetes were undiagnosed.

“Unfortunately, many patients who are prediabetic don’t understand the importance of proper nutrition, regular exercise and weight management until they are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes,” said Kraemer. 

Diabetes is a serious disease that can often be managed through regular physical activity, healthy eating habits, weight management, and the appropriate use of insulin and other medications to control blood sugar levels — if lifestyle modifications are not working.

If you have these risk factors, you may be at higher risk than others for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes, according to the CDC:
You are overweight.
You are 45 years of age or older.
Your parent or sibling has type 2 diabetes.
You are physically active fewer than 3 times per week.
You ever gave birth to a baby that weighed more than 9 pounds.
You ever had diabetes while pregnant (gestational diabetes).

The diabetes support group will be held the first Thursday of each month at 1:30 p.m. in classroom A/B at Aspirus Divine Savior Hospital and Clinic, 2817 New Pinery Road, Portage. All social distancing and safety measures, including masking will be in place for this event.  For more information, please call 608.745.5123 or by email at Emily.Kraemer@aspirus.org. 

© 2022 Aspirus, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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