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Diabetes can be addressed holistically, emphasizing diet, exercise, medications, mental health

Beaver County Times - 7/24/2017

July 24--PINE TWP. -- Jason Hinkle has been a diagnosed type-2 diabetic for several years, but he credits a 12-week program he began earlier this year that he said has improved his weight, diet and overall health.

"It's been the biggest change in my life right now," said Hinkle, 39, of Patterson Township.

Hinkle began seeing Dr. Poornima Rao of Allegheny Health Network'sCenter for Diabetes in Endocrine Health, which has a Pine Township location at Wexford Health and Wellness Pavilion.

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, an estimated 11.6 percent of Beaver County, or more than 15,300 residents, have been diagnosed with diabetes as of 2016.

Diabetes is a metabolic condition that impacts blood glucose because the body cannot produce insulin or produces only a reduced amount.

Allegheny Health Network's 12-week patient-centered program incorporates a team approach for patients comprising several specialists, including regular phone conversations with an endocrinologist, a registered dietitian, a diabetes navigator and a behavioral health therapist.

The new diabetes-care model was introduced in November after Allegheny Health Network received a $6 million grant from the Richard King Mellon Foundation.

Having involvement by a behavioral health therapist might be a surprise to some, but that person plays a vital role within an all-encompassing treatment, Rao said.

"We are realizing that there is a very big part of the diabetes that is also mental health," she said. "So there may be anxiety and depression associated with the diagnosis. We have a behavioral specialist who can address that and talk about how a patient is coping with the diagnosis, how their families are coping with the diagnosis, and help them all work together."

Hinkle said the therapist has helped him. Even as a social worker, he did not initially connect emotional health with physical health, but it's been a game changer.

"If you have emotional issues surrounding food, and not even just that, but things that maybe affect somebody in their past, traumatic events ... there's a mental health component there as well to help correct what it was that lead to somebody having diet problems," he said. "So overall, I think it's both improved me physically and mentally. I just feel much more positive, less depressed, more active. So it's been incredible for me."

Diet, exercise and medication have also played a role in his success. Hinkle was diagnosed back in 2003 and has tried dieting and exercising on many occasions since then.

He said this program has been more successful for him because it makes him accountable. Even now that his 12 weeks of the initial program has passed, he continues to monitor his diet, gets up at 4:30 a.m. to go to the gym three times a week before work, and takes insulin and a weekly medication that helps with suppressing his appetite.

"They congratulate me for putting in the work, but I congratulate them for coming up with the ideas and holding me accountable," he said. "... This collaborative effort not only just applies to physical, but in all aspects of life. As long as you have that support system in place, the more likely that you'll be successful than trying to go it alone."

His wife, Jamie, who also has diabetes, is scheduled to meet with Rao soon.

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(c)2017 the Beaver County Times (Beaver, Pa.)

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