Diabetes

Fighting Obesity and Diabetes

Obesity and diabetes are reaching epidemic levels in Eastern Connecticut. Windham Hospital and Backus Hospital are working together to create a regional model of care to give residents of Windham, Tolland and New London counties the tools and education they need to manage the disease. And, we’re creating programs and initiatives that are getting people to eat and live healthier.

In 2015, the hospital’s Diabetes Education Program again received a four-year accreditation from the American Diabetes Association, recognizing quality in diabetes self -management education programs. The program has held a “Certificate of Recognition” from the ADA since 1991 and was the first community hospital in the United States to meet the National Standards for Diabetes Self-Management Education.

More than 75 staff and community members attended the Windham Hospital World Diabetes Day Health Fair on Nov. 12 in the hospital’s atrium. In May, the diabetes education department hosted a health fair for Spanish-speaking community members who are at high risk for the disease, providing free health screenings including blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol and head and neck cancer screenings. Providers and translators were on-site to interpret results and provide education.

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