RUMFORD – Thanks to new telemedicine techniques, Rumford Hospital is again offering Ambulatory Diabetes Education and Follow-up. This is a critical program that teaches people with diabetes how to cope with the disease to stay as healthy as possible.

The hospital is partnering with the diabetes education team at Central Maine Medical Center to make the program available locally. Parts of the standardized program that require confidential information exchange are completed with Rumford Hospital staff. The classroom work is by interactive teleconference with diabetes educators at CMMC, supported by a nurse on site at Rumford Hospital.

Like all ADEF programs, the Rumford Hospital one involves a one-on-one visit with the nurse educator, Anne Marie Mahar, RN, at Rumford Hospital, followed by a one-on-one visit with the registered dietitian, Jane Wardwell, here.

After these individual sessions, people with diabetes participate in two three-hour group teleconferenced sessions. The first of these covers types of diabetes, high and low blood sugars, monitoring and medications. Meal planning, carbohydrates, label reading, complications and lab tests are part of the second session, as well as how exercise, stress and travel can effect blood sugars.

The follow-up of the program name comes within the first month, at three months, six months and one year to continue teaching and reinforce the concepts.

“These classes are essential for people with diabetes,” says Mahar. “Without this knowledge and understanding, it is difficult – to say the least – for people to control their diabetes.” People with diabetes have an increased risk of heart and liver disease and often suffer from circulatory problems.

If diabetes is not properly controlled, it can be life-threatening.

At Rumford Hospital, the next ADEF teleconferenced session will be held April 17. There is a fee for the program, and many insurance companies cover some or all of the program cost. Entry into ADEF is by physician referral. For more information, call the hospital switchboard at 369-1000 and ask for Anne Marie Mahar.