Our Maine Street's Aroostook Issue 16 : Spring 2013 | Page 42

At The Aroostook Medical Center (TAMC), the
Diabetes Self Management Training Program helps
patients with diabetes learn the skills they need to
successfully manage the disease. Participants find
out how to take control of diabetes through exercise,
meal planning, and medication management. The
program, which requires a physician referral, includes
eight hours of education and free follow up for a year,
coordinated by a diabetes nurse educator.

podiatrist every 3 months to have his feet checked and
nails taken care of.

Clayton urges people to get checked if they feel thirsty
all the time or go to the bathroom often during the
day. His son visited from Texas recently and Clayton
noticed him drink several glasses of water within
a short amount of time. He checked his son’s blood
sugar, and sure enough, it was 300 mg/dL. (Diabetes
is diagnosed when blood sugar levels are over 125 mg/
Northern Maine Medical Center also offers a Diabetes dL when fasting and over 200 mg/dL two hours after a
Self-Management Program. This program is designed glucose drink.) Clayton reflects, “To me, until diabetes
to assist the person with diabetes in learning as much gets into it’s late stages, you feel like doing this and
as possible about diabetes, its treatment and self- that, but you can’t. I would walk further than I should,
care, in order to achieve and/or maintain optimum and that’s what got me in trouble.”
management of their condition. NMMC’s DSMT
Program is a comprehensive outpatient diabetes Diabetes has no cure, but can be managed effectively
education program in compliance with the Diabetes with diet, exercise, and medication. Seek information
and support if you or someone you love has diabetes.
Prevention & Control Program in Augusta, Maine.
For more information, visit the following websites or
Northern Prosthetics & Orthotics provides care for the contact one of the local support services listed below:
American
Diabetes
diabetic population from prevention to amputation. http://www.diabetes.org/
Their board-certified staff will evaluate patient’s feet Association
Defeat
Diabetes
and provide custom fit, comfortable diabetic footwear http://www.defeatdiabetes.org/
with inserts that absorb shock, ensure proper foot Foundation, Inc.
alignment, and alleviate high pressure situations that http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ Medline Plus
could lead to tissue breakdown. Clinicians will work Medical Encyclopedia, A service of the U.S. National
with physicians and wound care specialists to assist Library of Medicine and the National Institute of
the healing process of existing wounds with custom Health.
unloading devices. Whether missing a toe or a limb,
Northern Prosthetics & Orthotics Prosthetists will Cary Medical Center
design and create the most appropriate prosthetic CMC Outpatient Education Diabetes Care Program
device to restore balance, gait symmetry, and mobility 163 Van Buren Road, Suite 1
Caribou, ME, 04736
to the diabetic amputee.
207-498-1283
Clayton Keiser, of Mapleton, has had diabetes for 20
years. Initially, he didn’t know the symptoms. He and The Aroostook Medical Center
his wife were driving home from downstate when he ADAPT To Diabetes Self-Management Program
noticed how fuzzy the highway signs were – diabetes PO Box 151, 140 Academy Street
had affected his eyesight. His diabetes was being Presque Isle, ME, 04769
treated with pills, but it became obvious that pills 207-768-4160
weren’t enough. He had to alter his diet and keep a
close watch on his feet. “I drove a truck for 43 years St. John Valley Health Center
across 48 states and only Louisiana had a diabetic CMC Outpatient Education Diabetes Care Program
2 Main Street
menu,” he recalls.
Van Buren, ME, 04785
Despite his efforts, neuropathy set in about 7 years ago. 207-498-1283
Small pinholes developed on the bottom of his feet,
which eventually became ulcers. He is now missing a The information provided in this article is not a
toe on one foot and 3 toes plus part of his foot on the substitute for professional medical advice and care. If
you have specific needs, please see a professional health
other.
care provider.
Working with Brian Rammell, CO at Northern
Prosthetics & Orthotics, he has acquired
accommodative footwear and inserts to protect his
feet. A nurse calls him every 3 months to check on him
and give him any new information. He also visits his
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