Our Mission is...

Providing access to quality diabetes education and support to reduce the burden of diabetes in North Carolina communities

Wake County Government- Living Well with Diabetes

2013 brings in a third year working with volunteer participants employed by Wake County Government that either have diabetes or have been found to be at-risk for diabetes. Participants have experienced postivie diabetes and health outcomes as a result of CDE (Certified Diabetes Educator) coaches, Team Peer Support, and help making lifestyle changes really work through Healthy Living Sessions. Meet two participants who worked consistently to improve their health in 2012 and agreed to tell us their stories.

Duane and Monette (pictured left) wanted to share their stories at the year-end graduation event.

Monette told the group “My initial reason for joining this group was the free strips, but what I got from the classes was so much more. With help from my team and coaches help I started making small changes. I made healthier food choices like drinking less sweet tea. I started walking before I even went into my house at night, so I wouldn’t change my mind. And then I began going to the Wake County fitness programs like Zumba and Body Fit. I have lost weight and gotten my blood sugars under better control. It was the support that really made the difference.”

Duane was angry about his diabetes when he came to the first team meeting almost two years ago. “I was jealous of all my friends that didn’t have diabetes. They could go to parties and eat and drink whatever they wanted,” he said. “All I knew about diabetes was that I had it. But over time, I learned how important testing is and that exercise really lowers your blood sugar. I started feeling better physically and mentally.” Duane is inspiring others in the group, too. “Don’t be afraid of that word exercise,” he told them. “Try to find something you enjoy.” Duane is now pursuing his certification as a personal trainer.

We ARE DIABETES MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS

the 501c3 home of: The Diabetes Bus Initiative

Diabetes is complicated- ask anyone you know with diabetes. Day-to-day things like eating, activity level, exercise, stress, and oftenmultiple medication management all must be monitored for their effect on blood glucose. Diabetes gets more difficult to manage the longer you have it. It is often misunderstood, and people with diabetes are often blamed both for having "caused" their diabetes through poor lifestyle choices and for poor management of their diabetes even though many factors that can't be modified by a person can lead to the diagnosis of diabetes and to uncontrolled blood glucoses.

People new to diabetes and people who face worsening blood glucose management need help navigating this condition by someone who knows about it. Our educators are all Certified Diabetes Educators and are highly qualified at helping people learn the skills to manage their diabetes while maintaining their quality of life and navigating through problems that arise as the diabetes becomes more challenging to manage . We offer free classes in small town hospitals and through employers in North Carolina.

DMS works hard at buidling collaborative relationships with others striving for better, healthier North Carolinian's like: Community Care of North Carolina, BeActive NC, Healthy Carolinians 2020, Eat Smart, Move More NC, and our many hospitals and employer groups in the regions where we provide service.

We need your continued support so that we can continue to offer FREE diabetes self-management classes in low-access communities to ensure that people have access to help managing their diabetes despite their insurance coverage and ability to pay. Your donations will help us lift the burden of diabetes one class, one person at a time

Read about our award-winning programs that are reducing the burden of diabetes in North Carolina

The Diabetes Bus Initiative