Diabetes Care

We Empower Patients to Manage Diabetes at Home

Diabetes is the fastest growing risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The number of people -- which has tripled over the last three decades -- is equal to 7% of the American population. More concerning is that one-third of diabetics are unaware they have the disease -- a disease which leads to cardiac conditions, stroke, blindness, loss of limb, and impotence for men. Knowing your risk profile will enable you to take control of your health and provide you with the best defense against diabetes.

What is Type 2 Diabetes?

When you eat, your food is broken down into a sugar called glucose. Glucose gives your body the energy it needs to work. But to use glucose as energy, your body needs insulin.

When you have type 2 diabetes, your body does not make enough insulin or use it well. Since your body’s cells can’t use the glucose from your food as energy, the glucose stays in your blood, where it can cause serious problems.

There is no cure for diabetes, but it can be managed. Balancing the food you eat with exercise and medicine (if prescribed) can keep your blood glucose in a healthy range. Many people with diabetes live long and healthful lives.

Self-Management Help:

• Exercise Close to Home
• HEALTHPLEX at the RMC Annex
• HEALTHPLEX of RMC - Branchville
• HEALTHPLEX of RMC - Holly Hill
• HEALTHPLEX of RMC - St. Matthews
• HEALTHPLEX of RMC - Santee
• Orangeburg County YMCA
• RMC Services
• After Hours Care
• Daily Food Diary
• Blood Pressure Log
• Fitness Diary
• Patient-Requested Lab Tests
• Community Calendar- Monthly events, services, support groups activities and health screenings.
• RMC Primary Care/Family Practice Physicians - These doctors provide prevention, diagnosis and treatment for a wide variety of illnesses and for patients of all ages
• RMC Primary Care - RMC operates a total of seven Primary Care Offices located in Orangeburg (2), Bamberg, Branchville, Holly Hill, North and
  St. Matthews.
• RMC Cardiologists - Cardiologists specialize in diseases of the heart, lungs and blood vessels and manage complex cardiac conditions such as heart attacks and life-threatening abnormal heart beat rhythms.
• Monthly Dinner/Lunch & Learn - On the third Thursday evening of each month, RMC offers a “Dinner & Learn” program, and on the third Friday RMC offers a “Lunch & Learn” program. Seating limited; pre-registration required. A free meal will be provided.
• Health Topic of the Month - Each month, RMC features a health topic and previous health topic information is also included.

Resources:

• Living with Diabetes
• RMC Diabetes Education Program
• National Diabetes Education Program
• dLife.com - For Your Diabetes Life
• Diabetes.org Type-2 Diabetes Information
• Centers for Disease Control's Division of Diabetes
• American Diabetes Association

Handouts & Recipes:

• RMC Diabetes Education Program Flyer
• Recipes