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Author: Kim Hee-jun
Photo Credit: HOLY NAME MEDICAL CENTER
Today, 8.5% of adults worldwide are affected by a particular disease: diabetes. The number of diabetes patients globally is increasing by approximately 4-6% annually. This serious condition can lead to severe complications such as heart attacks, strokes, glaucoma, cataracts, renal diseases, and neurological disorders. Notably, the incidence rate among Asians is double that of Westerners, necessitating more specialized management.
Holy Name Hospital, which has been dedicated to improving the health of the Korean community through various medical programs, offers a systematic and professional personalized medical service for diabetes. From prevention to treatment, patients can access one-stop services at Holy Name's Asian Diabetes Center.
Holy Name Hospital is committed to diabetes prevention, organizing diverse events such as diabetes expos, seminars, and specialized education to safeguard the health of the Korean community. This center provides a full spectrum of medical services, from prevention to rehabilitation. Professional medical staff offer tailored treatments to not only manage the disease but also prevent complications. They oversee programs certified by the American Diabetes Association, designed to help patients manage their condition effectively.
The center facilitates personalized dietary plans by Korean nutritionists and educates patients on managing blood sugar levels, using glucose meters, diet therapy, exercise, and complication prevention. In collaboration with overseeing physicians, the center offers detailed and ongoing management and treatment. Patients can access diabetes education at Holy Name upon receiving a prescription for 'diabetes education.'
The Asian Diabetes Center at Holy Name is hailed as a 'complete package' in diabetes care, providing education, dietary, and exercise programs, managed by specialized nurses and nutritionists for optimal disease management.
Grace Kwon, Diabetes Education Specialist at Holy Name, emphasizes the significance of education as a starting point in diabetes management. She states, "The American Diabetes Association defines education as the beginning of diabetes management. While exercise and diet modification are well-known needs, precise methods and actionable plans are not as widely understood. Our role is to assist in that journey."
Christine Kim, a nutritionist and community wellness education expert at Holy Name, manages dietary plans for patients and the general community. "In our annual screenings, 45% of the community exhibits pre-diabetes, and 13% have diabetes," she notes. "Our education programs have led to significant reductions in A1c levels, reinforcing the importance of diabetes education within the community."
To receive diabetes education, patients should obtain a prescription from their primary care physician and contact Holy Name Hospital's Korean Medical Program. Most insurance plans cover this education, and for those uninsured, assistance is available through Holy Name’s discount program. For more information, contact the Korean Medical Program at (201) 833-3399.
