To meet the demand for information to address one of the most pressing public health concerns facing the Long Island’s Hispanic community, Mercy Medical Center will be conducting its popular outpatient Diabetes Self-Management Training Program in Spanish in February.
The program begins with an hour-long individual assessment for each participant, followed by two weekly group workshops on Feb. 1 and 8 from 12 to 2 p.m. Each participant also receives a free follow-up session approximately three months after the program ends.
The Spanish-language training will be conducted by Patricia Mairen, a registered nurse with more than 20 years of experience. Mairen is credentialed by the National Certification Board for Diabetes Educators and is both a volunteer and an active member of the board of directors of the American Diabetes Association Latino Initiative.
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The program at Mercy provides participants with the skills required for day-to-day management of diabetes and strategies for people living with diabetes to maintain and maximize life activities.
Those who can benefit from the program include both individuals recently diagnosed with diabetes and those who have been living with it for some time, along with those who are confused about what to eat, those having difficulty controlling blood sugar, those who have experienced serious consequences of the disease such as vision or foot problems, and those who want to maximize energy, improve emotional well-being and prevent complications.
The program is most often covered by Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance.
For information call 516-62MERCY.
