PLATTSBURGH— Continuous glucose monitors, wearable technology that can help those living with diabetes manage their disease more effectively is the focus of a free community lecture offered by the EXPLORE Consortium on Wednesday, Oct. 9 at the West Side Ballroom, 295 New York Rd.
The event begins at 5:30 p.m. with exhibits and displays and includes a presentation at 6 p.m. by Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist Catherine LaPier of the University of Vermont Health Network – Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital (CVPH).
Continuous glucose monitors, according to LaPier, continually provide feedback about the decisions people with diabetes are making in their daily lives.
“Whether its medication, lifestyle or things they don’t realize are affecting their blood sugar; the monitors give valuable data.”
When compared to a point-in-time finger stick, continuous glucose monitors offer a more complete picture of glucose levels – which is critical to making healthy lifestyle choices.
LaPier said that understanding the role these sensors can play in diabetes management is now more important than ever as more people with the disease may be eligible to obtain one.
“Medicare has eliminated some of the restrictions that previously prevented many patients from accessing them. We may see a lot of people that were told at one time they did not quality and now they do,” she said. LaPier will discuss who now qualifies, some of the barriers to qualification and tips on navigating them.
“It’s technology we are seeing utilized more and more and patients with diabetes are inquiring about it. It is a tool that I don’t think is widely enough used and it’s going to have the biggest benefit on our patients who live with diabetes.”
About 11% of the population in Clinton County lives with diabetes which is on par with New York State’s average. However, according to the Clinton County Community Health Assessment (2022-2024), the Clinton County surpasses benchmark averages related to diabetes deaths and has a higher rate of diabetes hospitalizations (primary diagnosis).
The EXPLORE (Experience, & Professional Learning Opportunities Result in Excellence) Consortium is a community based collaborative effort to facilitate access to continuing education for health care practitioners in the North Country.
Register for “Continuous Glucose Monitors” at 518-802-0161.