MDP Highlights and Updates
Professional Conference Success
The 26th Annual Diabetes Professional Conference was held in Great Fall in October. It was well attended with great speakers. Please mark your calendars for October 2-4, 2024 when we'll hold our next Annual Conference at Fairmont Hot Springs.
Congratulations!
In order to recognize excellence and continuing efforts in Diabetes care and education the MDP presents awards at the annual conference. Nominations were accepted late summer through early fall. Congratulations to this and prior years' winners!
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Tolly Patten – Lifestyle Coach of the Year
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Julia Waibel- Rising Star
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Yellowstone Pharmacy (Leanna Schwend, Rachel Hotter) – Advancing the Vision
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Logan Health Diabetes Education and Prevention Program (Paige Sadowski, Leslie Coates, Brittany Schultz, Taylor Steubs, Joliene Brechel) – Advancing the Vision
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Brittany Schultz – Distinguished Service Award
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Montana Youth Diabetes Alliance – Organization of the Year.
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Sue Larson, St. Peter's Health -Montana ADCES Diabetes Care and Education Specialist of the Year
 Watch for nominations to open up at the end of summer 2024. Consider nominating someone you know next year!
Goodbye!
Jennifer Van Syckle's last day with DPHHS will be December 15th. For more than four years, she has been the Quality Improvement Coordinator/Health Education Specialist for the MDP and the Asthma Control Program. Jennifer will be taking on a new role as a Communications Specialist at a different State Agency. As she is a frequent point of contact for many, please reach out to Melissa or Will for assistance.
Diabetes Care & Education
Holidays can be stressful for people living with diabetes
Nearly half (49%) of people living with type 2 diabetes said managing their condition during a typical fall and winter holiday season is more difficult than other times of the year, according to a 2021 “Know Diabetes by Heart” survey by the American Diabetes Association and the American Heart Association.
The survey included over 1000 adults aged 45 and older and showed that maintaining health goals was the top concern during the holiday season.
Regarding nutrition, nearly three-quarters (73%) of respondents reported having a lot or complete control over their dietary choices during a normal week, compared to just over half (52%) during a holiday week, such as Christmas.
Managing diabetes throughout the year is key to preventing serious complications like heart disease, stroke and chronic kidney disease, which are the leading and largely preventable causes of disability and death for people living with diabetes.
However, there are tips and tricks to staying on track with your health goals during the holiday season, including:
- Eat healthy foods at home before going to a party. If you’re full, there’s less chance of overeating at the party.
- Bring healthy food to the party. There will probably be others that would appreciate healthy and tasty foods as well.
- Create new family traditions, such as going for a walk together or putting on the holiday tunes and having a dance party.
For more ideas on managing diabetes during the holidays:
7 Tips to Stay on Track | ADA (diabetes.org)
Healthy Holidays | CDC
For more help or guidance on assisting yourself or others with Diabetes Self Management Education please reach out to Marci.
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Diabetes Prevention
Looking for the perfect gift this holiday season? Why not give yourself and your loved ones the gift of good health!
By making changes – like eating better and being more physically active – you and your patients can prevent or delay type 2 diabetes and have many more years to make memories with family.
One in three Americans has prediabetes, a condition where blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not high enough yet for a type 2 diabetes diagnosis. A one-minute prediabetes risk test can tell if you or your patients are at risk.
The good news is that prediabetes can often be reversed by making lifestyle changes. When planning for the holidays this year, think about how you or your patients can fit some healthy habits into celebrations.
- Add a new healthy recipe to a holiday meal or swap in some healthier ingredients in a family favorite.
- A festive activity can get the whole family up and moving, so try enjoying a walk outside to look at holiday decorations in your neighborhood, having a family snowball fight, or playing an active game like charades.
This year, let healthy lifestyle changes bring comfort and joy to the holidays. But don’t stop there – better health is the gift that keeps on giving!
Joining a National Diabetes Prevention Program can help you or your patients learn more about how to get and stay healthier to reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. In the program, participants work in a group with a trained lifestyle coach to learn how to make long-term changes.
For more information, visit the Montana diabetes prevention webpage and give the gift of good health by preventing type 2 diabetes!
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Social Determinants of Health
The Lonely Codes
The holiday season is an especially important time to screen your patients for Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) and document findings using Z-codes. Certain SDOH and codes likely come to mind, such as inadequate housing (Z59.10) or food insecurity (Z59.41). Here is a wonderful infographic with some of those useful codes and reasoning why to document them.
However, loneliness and social isolation are also SDOH which need to be recognized and documented. This time of year can be particularly valuable to recognize this in both yourself and your patients. Consider using some of these codes to help take care one step farther:
 For help, guidance, or to discuss what you can do around SDOH please reach out to Margaret.
Quality Improvement
What is your holiday sprint?
One key piece of quality improvement (QI) is the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle. The 'do' part of this often, literally, involves a 'to-do list' of tasks.
Whether it's a QI project or conquering the holidays, realizing limits and time constraints are necessary when creating a list which can be accomplished. The same principles can be applied.
Set limits around the time on task. This can include shopping, holiday party commitments, even the time spent on decorating.
Reasonable expectations. Keep an open and honest mind on what you can actually, successfully take on or accomplish.
Give to yourself a little wiggle room. Don't forget to allow extra time for tasks, ask for help from others, and enjoy the extras that may come with with season.
Great resources are available to help you with this holiday season. Enjoy!
Please share with colleagues, friends, and family. Encourage them to subscribe!
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