The battle against diabetes is far from over. That is why Holy Cross Health, the non-profit health care system, is offering classes to combat the disease.
Potentially Deadly Disease
Simply put, diabetes can kill. It is the seventh leading cause of death among Americans. Here in Montgomery County, statistics show that about 7% of residents have the disease. That means about 70,000 people are dealing with diabetes across the county. Some health professionals say the actual numbers are likely much higher because some people are unaware they have diabetes.
Programs Offered
Holy Cross Health, the non-profit health care system that serves people in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties, is trying to help educate people about this potentially devastating disease.
Shortly after the pandemic began, Holy Cross Health launched its Equitable Wellness Initiative. The initiative’s main goal is to reduce health disparities among Black/African American, and Latino/Hispanic communities. These groups were especially hard hit during the pandemic. They experienced a greater number of cases and deaths compared to white residents.
During the spring of 2021, the health care group received a grant for two years to develop a number of programs. Some of those offerings include classes about diabetes prevention, diabetes management, and lung health. When doctors first began treating patients for Covid-19 they discovered many of them either had diabetes or were pre-diabetic.
Details on Classes
Medical professionals say healthy lifestyle choices often can delay or prevent the most common form of the disease, Type 2 diabetes. That is why education is important.
Each of the classes Holy Cross Health offers has multiple sessions that run about 90 minutes. Participants will have the opportunity to set their own health goals and can receive referrals for specific social and health needs.
“The overarching goal of the program is really just to reduce the burden of diabetes and improve quality of life for people who are at risk for diabetes,” said Shelly-Ann Tang who is the manager of diabetes initiatives at Holy Cross Health.
Another goal is to reduce lung complications some patients may have experienced after contracting Covid-19. Instructors will provide tips to patients to help them improve their overall lung function.
The diabetes prevention class will teach people the basics about the disease. It will explain the differences between Type 1, Type 2 and gestational diabetes. A second class will go over some of the signs and symptoms of the disease . It also will address the importance of physical activity and nutrition. A third class will focus on stress management and provide steps to quit smoking. The diabetes management class will teach people how to cope with the disease, and how to prevent common complications.
“We really need to get a better handle on diabetes in our community, and help the underserved, vulnerable, and disadvantaged individuals who do not have access or have limited access to medical care that impacts their ability to be healthy and thrive,” Tang said.
“When the program was designed, we did a lot of data assessment and analysis, and we honed in on target zip codes that were impacted the most by Covid-19,” Tang added.
Benefitting the Community
Organizers have identified nine zip codes, seven in Montgomery County and two in Prince George’s County that can benefit the most from the program. However, as the program has grown, Holy Cross Health has identified more communities that can benefit from its services.
Tang said combatting diabetes has become a national priority. It also is a priority in Maryland and in Montgomery County.
“To achieve health equity, to address barriers and remove barriers so everyone has a fair opportunity to be as healthy as possible is very important,” Tang said.
More Information
People who want more information about the Equitable Wellness Initiative classes can call 301-754-8510 or email EWI@holycrosshealth.org
