|
Joe Henry didn't know he had impaired glucose intolerance
(IGT), the precursor of type 2 diabetes, until his blood
sugar was tested at a health fair.
Armed with that information and having several IGT risk
factors, he enrolled in a new, eight-week University of Iowa
Health Care program called REACH.
REACH
(Reaching Euglycemia and Comprehensive Health) helps people
like Henry to normalize their blood sugar, which means
reaching euglycemia, thereby helping to prevent or delay
onset of type 2 diabetes. The program also helps people
newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes to prevent
complications associated with high blood sugar.
"I have definitely increased the amount of exercise I'm
getting and exercise nearly everyday," said Henry, assistant
to the dean in the University of Iowa Graduate College.
"I've also become more reflective about my eating habits."
Henry said the program helped him understand IGT as a
medical condition and, most importantly, gave him tools and
strategies to help him more effectively control his
condition.
REACH provides physical exams, counseling, expert advice,
exercise evaluation, and exercise sessions.
"The program really helps people remove barriers to
improving their health and controlling their blood sugar,"
said Rhonda Barr, a physical therapist and REACH program
coordinator.
In addition to Barr, the IGT team includes a dietitian,
mental health counselor, diabetes nurse educator, physician
assistant, and physician.
For information about a free blood sugar test, call UI
Health Access, 800-777-8442, and ask for the REACH program.
For more information about upcoming REACH program sessions,
call UI Health Access and ask for the Department of
Rehabilitation Therapies, or call the department directly at
319-356-2663.
REACH
Homepage
IGT and diabetes risk factors
- Family members with diabetes
- Diabetes during pregnancy
- Giving birth to a baby weighing more than nine
pounds
- Overweight
- High blood pressure or high cholesterol levels
- Native American, African American or Hispanic
descent
|
Physical therapist Rhonda Barr encourages Connie Corcoran
during an exercise regime for patients with impaired glucose
tolerance and type 2 diabetes.
|
