Diabetes is a complicated, chronic and progressive disease that requires constant attention and management. The person with diabetes is almost completely responsible for this management other than the prescribing of medicine. And yet, many people are asked to manage their diabetes with a brochure and a prescription. Then, they are blamed if their management is less than ideal. Because of limited health insurance reimbursement for diabetes self-management classes, only large urban hospitals have programs, which leave a good percentage of North Carolinians without access.
In 2000, out of frustration over this fact, founder Kim Hanchette developed the idea for a nonprofit organization that would address this desperate need for diabetes education and support in underserved communities and populations. Along with a very supportive group of people with diabetes, Diabetes Management Solutions was born and now maintains The Diabetes Bus Initiative, a mobile diabetes education program which provides free diabetes self-management classes to several rural North Carolina communities via primary physician offices and hospitals.
Kim developed a unique teaching model that promotes a comfortable rapport and uses a non-threatening approach to diabetes self-management. She incorporates practical diabetes skills, lifestyle goals that measurably impact diabetes outcomes and peer support that empower people learning together. This model is the basis for the Diabetes Bus classes taught by several diabetes educators around North Carolina. Diabetes health outcomes continue to prove that the Diabetes Bus model is improving hemoglobin A1c's, reducing complications, and increasing patient self-confidence with diabetes skills.
Watch the story about The Diabetes Bus, featured on CNBC’s dLife show.
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