¡Healthy Hoy!

Some patients need extra help, and at SFCHC, that’s okay. If your diabetes is out of control (for example, your A1C is 7% or higher) our nutritionist will work with you individually to create achievable, effective goals. First, they’ll identify the areas you most need to work on. They’ll then provide guidance based on AADE7, the seven Self-Care Behaviors developed by the Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists:

Finally, they’ll monitor your progress and be available for support throughout your self-management training.

Teamwork DOES make the dream work! Care Circle is a remote patient monitoring program to help patients manage diabetes. This program incorporates your friends, family, care providers, other patients, and SFCHC’s nutrition experts for boundless support. It starts with an array of tools to monitor diabetes:

Participants also get a guidebook full of tips and encouragement, with space to record your goals, milestones, and appointments. You’ll have access to SFCHC’s library of recipes and videos about cooking and nutrition. And throughout the program, your Care Circle will be right there with you.

Pain, hassle, misinformation. To bypass the problems that normally come with glucose monitoring, SFCHC providers have adopted GCM Dexcom G7. This easy-to-wear system sends glucose readings, accurate to the minute, to your smart device or a receiver we provide. Dexcom helps patients manage all types of diabetes by sending alerts of high or low glucose levels up to 20 minutes in advance, no finger pricks required! When you stay on top of your glucose levels, you spend more time in range, which lowers A1C and helps you feel better. SFCHC providers will walk you through Dexcom’s use until you’re confident, because patients feeling better is what we’re all about.

Nutrition programs may seem like a luxury in the fight against diabetes, but our patients are worth it. The Center for Disease Control, through SFCHC, offers a FREE lifestyle coaching program. This program teaches how to eat healthy and stay physically active to prevent Type 2 diabetes and lower your A1C. The yearlong program is open to individuals 18 and older who are also any of the following:

• Prediabetes with an A1C between 5.7 - 6.4%

• Gestational Diabetes

• Body mass index greater than 25%

If you’ve ever considered taking a cooking class, our Diabetes Teaching Kitchen is a fun place to discover healthy meals that taste delicious. SFCHC offers classes in weight management and diabetes prevention in our very own Teaching Kitchen at our San Fernando location. Over the six-week course, you’ll learn delicious new recipes, healthy cooking techniques, and helpful facts about nutrition. Bring friends and family members and learn together how to enjoy food while staying healthy. Reserve your spot by calling (818) 963-5690, extension 160 or 178, today!

There are lots of obstacles to healthy eating. To overcome them, SFCHC is proud to offer FEAST (Food Education Access Support Together) health education classes. The program was designed for adults with limited regular access to food or at greater risk for food-related illnesses. Participants learn about nutrition, and getting it on a budget, through recipes and cooking demonstrations. Perhaps most importantly, FEAST explores relationships with and beliefs about food and eating, while encouraging support and community with classmates. Getting healthy can be a deeply emotional journey. SFCHC offers the resources of FEAST to ensure that your journey is a success.

SFCHC understands the importance of food in Latino culture, but combined with genetics and other factors, it can be a health risk. In fact, Hispanic and Latino adults are 60% more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes than other Americans. Enter Project ALTO-D: Alerting Latinos To Overcome Diabetes. Over eight weeks, you’ll learn how to manage diabetes, so you don’t have to give up cherished family recipes. Open to anyone over 18, the program is available at SFCHC, in school parent centers, and at other community venues. With Project ALTO-D, you and your family can keep celebrating your culture for years to come.

Your health journey may include prescription medication. Fortunately, you’ll have a whole team by your side. A provider, nurse practitioner, and educators will all work with you on a program to manage your weight and body mass index (BMI). Through their plan, and adopting a healthier lifestyle, you’ll work toward specific goals:

All this support (plus a free scale!) means you’ll be on your way to a healthy weight and the power to sustain it.