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Are you living with or caring for someone with a chronic condition?

Are you at risk for developing diabetes?

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Could you have Prediabetes?  TAKE THE TEST

We have some tools that might be useful to you!

There are several different programs offered in the North Country region, based on evidence, and delivered by certified leaders. In most cases, the programs are completely FREE, or covered by insurance. Interested in learning more? You’re in the right place.

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The Chronic Disease Self-Management Education (CDSME) programs are a six-week interactive peer-support program designed by Stanford University, and currently licensed by the Self-Management Resource Center (SMRC). The workshops focus on issues common to people with a variety of health conditions; participants develop skills through Action Planning and Feedback, Behavior Modeling, Problem-Solving Techniques, and Decision-Making.

Developed by Stanford University, this evidence based program teaches important self-management skills, which help individuals with a chronic condition live healthier lives. Topics include: 

  • Physical Activity
  • Managing Fatigue 
  • Better Breathing
  • Communication
  • Working with Healthcare Professionals
  • Healthy Eating
  • Managing Pain
  • Medications 
  • Problem Solving

This program is designed for all who are living with chronic pain, or are interested in learning more about self-management of chronic pain. Family members, friends and/or caregivers are encouraged to attend as well. Support and encouragement from both leaders and peers help with day to day management. Topics covered include:

  • Working effectively with your healthcare team
  • Healthy Eating
  • Physical activity
  • Problem Solving
  • Short-term goal setting
  • Safe medication usage while minimizing side effects
  • Stress Management

This 6 week program is specifically designed for individuals who are managing cancer or who have ever faced a cancer diagnosis. Family members, friends and caregivers are also invited to attend. Topics covered include:

  • Techniques to deal with problems such as frustration, fatigue, pain, isolation, poor sleep and living with uncertainty
  • Appropriate exercise for regaining and maintaining flexibility and endurance
  • Making decisions about treatment & complementary therapies
  • Communicating effectively with family, friends and your health care team
  • Nutrition
  • Setting priorities
  • Relationships

This 6 week program is designed for those who are living with diabetes, pre-diabetic, or who are interested in learning more about diabetes. Family members, friends and/or caregivers are encouraged to attend as well. Support and encouragement from both leaders and peers help with day to day management. Topics covered include:

  • Nutrition
  • Physical Activity
  • Problem Solving
  • Short-term goal setting
  • Medication usage
  • Dealing with the frustration and other difficult emotions that come with living with a long term health condition

This program is an adaptation of the 6-week Chronic Disease Self-Management Program, developed at Stanford University Patient Education Research Center. It contains similar content, but is rearranged into 1-hour segments for the workplace, offered twice weekly, over the course of six weeks, for a total of 12 sessions. Participants make weekly action plans, share experiences, and help each other solve problems they encounter in creating and carrying out their self-management program. Topics include:

  • Techniques to help balance work and home life
  • Techniques to deal with problems such as frustration, fatigue, pain and isolation
  • Appropriate exercise for maintaining and improving strength, flexibility, and endurance
  • Appropriate use of medications
  • Communicating effectively with family, friends, and health professionals
  • Nutrition
  • Decision-making
  • How to evaluate new treatments 

Participants will receive the Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Conditions published by the developers of the Self-Management Programs. This book is a vital resource full of practical tips, suggestions, and strategies to build confidence in managing chronic illness and symptoms. Also offered is the “Relaxation for Mind and Body”, relaxation CD, designed to accompany the resource book.

Living a healty like with chronic conditions book
Testimonials
Testimonial for the Prevent T2 (DPP) Program: On 10/29/2019 I went for my 6-month check-up with my Primary Care Physician. During this check-up, my physician reviewed my lab work that had been drawn the previous week. They expressed concern regarding my A1C level being at 6.4. The physician ended our visit with a referral to the Prevent T2 Program, with a follow-up appointment in 4 months. I started attending the program on 11/5/2019, midway through the current class sessions. I finished the classes in that particular session and then began again with the new session on 1/7/2020. On 2/20/2020 I went for my 4-month follow-up with my Primary Care Physician where again they reviewed my most recent lab work. My A1C had dropped from 6.4 to 5.7. In addition, I had also lost a total of 27 pounds since my visit on October 29th. The physician was very happy with my results. I will now have another follow-up in 6 months. The Program provides so much information, along with many suggestions from our DPP Lifestyle Coaches. I look forward to attending class each and every week. Coaches and participants are very welcoming and provide weekly support and information that assist in my attempt to revamp my lifestyle as far as eating and exercise. I would recommend this program to anyone who needs a good support system while they attempt to lower their risk of diabetes and/or control their diabetes. Kudos to the coaches!!!
North Country Resident
North Country Resident Age 61
“I am truly enjoying teaching the diabetes class. I was nervous at first. But it is nice when students begin to understand basic ideas of diabetes”
Paul MillerschinPeer Leader, Community Health Center of the North Country
“I did the test my sugar then walk test my sugar again and it went down 11 points....AMAZING“
North Country ResidentNational Diabetes Prevention Program
“I wanted to share the letter that we received from one of our participants that completed our last telephonic class.” "June 23, 2021 * Dear Team, Recently I completed the six-week group program using the Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Conditions Kit. Alysia Goodwin was our program organizer and she did a wonderful job of conducting the volunteer program. We were introduced to the complete tool kit and we used the textbook, the handbook, and the Relaxation and Exercise CDs. (My personal favorites were the handbook and the relaxation CD.} Each week our group was encouraged by Alysia to use an Action Plan worksheet. We committed ourselves to pushing our confidence levels to at least a level 7 or more, and to report to the group our outcomes. It was rewarding to discover we could accomplish more than we thought we were able to by using the tools suggested in the textbook and completing the exer­cises. Our confidence levels were tested and improved by using new ways to communicate with our families, care givers, and doctors. We explored ways to eat healthier and increase our phys­ical activities by thinking positively and learning new coping skills. Self Care was also an im­portant part of the program and each week we were encouraged and praised for our accom­plishments by Alysia and other group members. I learned a lot from this program and I will continue using the suggested ways of dealing with my concerns, pains, and chronic condition. I look forward to continuing using the CDs and self managing my health by using the textbook as an excellent resource in many areas of my life. I believe this tool kit would benefit anyone suffering from many different mental and/or physical conditions and I encourage the Office of Aging to reach out to more members of the county. Alysia did a very professional job of presenting the materials and guiding us along the six -week journey of self awareness to our own personal strengths and coping skills. Her personal experiences and participation were encouraging and appreciated. Thank you for introducing and presenting this program to myself and others." ~ Sincerely, Edna M Bower
Alysia GoodwinPeer Leader, Essex County Office for the Aging
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