HJAR Nov/Dec 2021

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS I  NOV / DEC 2021 39 José R. Romero, MD Secretary Arkansas Department of Health hospitals to offer new sites. The ADH’s Be Well Arkansas program maintains an on- line tool to help people and healthcare pro- viders find the closest programs to them at www.bewellarkansas.org/resources/ interactive-map.html. Be Well Arkansas, the ADH’s wellness service, is also a great tool for healthcare providers and their patients. It links Arkan- sans to local resources they can use to im- prove their health and well-being by better managing their diabetes and blood pres- sure as well as quitting tobacco. To get help, Arkansans may call 833-283-9355, or go to bewellarkansas.org to chat online with a wellness counselor or request services. While diabetes awareness and education have improved over the years, there is still a long way to go, especially in the era of COVID-19. The current pandemic has caused many programs to only offer online sessions that some Arkansans are not able to attend. This means the aftermath of the pandemic will be felt for a long time as healthcare providers work to get patients the resources they need to best manage their illnesses like diabetes and heart disease. Learn more about diabetes and avail- able resources at healthy.arkansas.gov/ programs-services/topics/diabetes. n those diagnosed with diabetes to enroll in the Diabetes Self-Management Education Programs (DSME). Another program is Medication Therapy Management (MTM). There is a lot of information to learn when a person is diagnosed. It can be overwhelm- ing. The DSME programs are run by nurses, dieticians and pharmacists to help anyone diagnosed with diabetes learn how to bet- ter manage their illness. Recognized by the American Diabetes Association and the American Association of Diabetes Educa- tors, DSME programs are structured into 10 sessions focusing on lifestyle modifica- tions that include calorie intake, cooking and physical education. Pharmacists can help people learn how to check blood glu- cose levels, how to look for signs of high or low blood glucose levels and medication management. These programs are recommended, cov- ered by all insurance providers and offered in person as well as online. Most sessions have been more virtual due to COVID-19. For anyone who would like more help in understanding their medication, the ADH recommends the MTM programs. MTM is available in pharmacies to help diabetes pa- tients ensure their prescription drugs are working for them. It touches on areas such as how to properly take insulin, use insu- lin pumps and how to count the number of grams of carbohydrates in a meal andmatch that to insulin doses. The DPP, DSME and MTM programs are not new; however, the ADH is constantly working to recruit more new clinics and