Healthcare organizations around the world are celebrating the important role nurses play in helping people with diabetes to live longer, healthier lives. After all, multiple studies show that when nurses and diabetes educators work alongside physicians as part of a healthcare team, people with diabetes are more likely to reach their blood sugar goals, have fewer complications, feel more in control, and experience much less diabetes-related stress. To honor and recognize the nurses, educators, and people with diabetes in our community, we invited Bonita Wilson, Registered Nurse and YRMC Diabetes Educator to the set of YRMC’s Your Healthy Kitchen via Zoom, to talk about her work and prepare an easy, delicious, diabetes-friendly meal!
Grilled Fish with Salsa Fresca Recipe
Prior to our video chat, Bonita shared what she enjoys about her job. “I love making a difference and am continually inspired by the people who live long, healthy lives with diabetes. Life can be challenging for all of us sometimes, so imagine having diabetes on top of the everyday ups and downs we all face. I am impressed by the strong, resilient people living with diabetes in our community. They inspire me each day to be a great nurse and diabetes educator”.
Diabetes educators are healthcare professionals who apply their in-depth knowledge to help patients manage the daily and future challenges of diabetes. As part of a healthcare team, diabetes educators provide individualized counseling and classroom-based education related to every aspect of diabetes management, including diet, physical activity, medications, monitoring and stress management. Studies show that the more informed people with diabetes are about the disease, the more likely they are to maintain their health and avoid long term complications, including cardiovascular disease, kidney failure and neuropathy.
Remember, one in every three Americans currently has, or is at risk for developing diabetes, so talk to your healthcare provider about your risks of developing the disease. If you have diabetes or pre-diabetes, get more information and connect with YRMC’s Diabetes Education Program at 928-771-5794 in Prescott and 928-759-5920 in Prescott Valley.