A newsletter from The Miriam Hospital Weight Management Program Strategy, Support, Success, Weight Loss
Our Mission: To teach patients the skills necessary to make lifestyle changes and to empower patients to implement these changes in their everyday lives. Each patient’s program is personalized based on his/ her current weight, medical conditions, lifestyle factors, and personal goals.
The Miriam Hospital Weight Management Program provides comprehensive treatment programs designed specifically to treat various levels of overweight and obesity. Treatment staff include physicians, psychologists, physician assistants, nurses, nutritionists, and exercise physiologists. Patients can enroll in a free orientation session by calling 401-444-4800. The Miriam Hospital Weight Management Program 146 West River Street Suite 11A, First Floor Providence, RI 02904 www.miriamhospital.org/ weight-management
Volume 1, Issue 1: Fall 2014
Obesity and Diabetes: Reversing the Negative Spiral Individuals with diabetes often find that as their weight increases the ability to control their diabetes becomes harder. As a result, higher doses of medication and insulin are needed to keep blood sugar levels controlled. Unfortunately, a side effect of many diabetes medications is weight gain. A negative spiral occurs as increasing weight worsens diabetic control. This causes the need to increase diabetes medication and insulin. Then the increase in medications can cause weight gain to occur even more rapidly.
After just 16 – 20 weeks of treatment in the Weight Management Program,
Weight loss can play a significant role in diabetes management. As weight loss • 59% of all diabetes medication is begins, typically blood sugars improve discontinued or reduced. quickly. Under a doctor’s care, diabetes • Average weight loss in patients medications and insulin doses can be with diabetes is 37 pounds. reduced. This results in improved weight loss as the side effects of the medication • Average reduction in HbA1C is and insulin diminish. A positive spiral is 1.0%, from 7.6% (pretreatment created as more weight loss is generated on diabetes medications) to resulting in further reduction in 6.6% (while reducing diabetes medication and insulin. In many cases, medications). insulin and medication can be reduced significantly and sometimes discontinued entirely during the course of obesity treatment. The Miriam Hospital Weight Management Program diabetes treatment program has helped patients successfully lose weight and improve diabetes control. Following a low calorie diet using nutritional supplements under medical supervision improves weight loss in individuals with diabetes. The program uses such a nutritional supplement - OptiFast™. The program helps patients with diabetes safely achieve a higher level of weight loss. Through close medical monitoring of diabetes, there is ongoing adjustment of medication and insulin. The program also focuses on behavioral strategies, such as managing urges for sweets, as well as individualized physical activity plans, and nutritional education around planning and preparing healthy and tasty meals. These changes in lifestyle are powerful in managing both weight and diabetes. Through the benefits of weight loss, the negative spiral of obesity and diabetes and their associated negative long-term health complications can be improved and reversed. Vincent Pera, MD, Medical and Program Director
A newsletter from The Miriam Hospital Weight Management Program
Patient Success
Anno unce ments
Patrick, age 70, had a weight problem for 40 years. On top of that he had type 2 diabetes, diabetic neuropathy, and arthritis. In 2014, he joined The Miriam Hospital Weight Management Program.
Rebuilding Your Wardrobe after Weight Loss You have lost weight and have achieved better health, higher levels of energy and a dramatic change in your clothing size.
Patrick’s starting weight was 232.4 pounds - a Body Mass Index of 35.5 (obese). He was using Lantus Insulin twice daily and Humalog Insulin with each meal. His fasting blood sugar was 153 and HA1C 5.9. He was not exercising at the time that he started the program.
This presentation offers strategies for women to build an affordable, stylish and comfortable wardrobe. Free program. Open to the public. Registration required. Please call 793-8790 to register. Date:
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
Time: 6:30 p.m. Place: TMH Weight Management Program 146 West River St. Suite 11 A, First Floor Providence, RI 02904 COMING SOON!
Program for Emotional Eaters This program will address the psychological aspects of eating. Participants will learn about contributors to emotional eating and how to better manage them, and create healthy eating schedules and patterns.
The Miriam Hospital Weight Management Program has partnered with the East Side YMCA to offer reduced gym membership fees! Starting October 1, 2014, Weight Management patients can join the East Side YMCA for just $10.00 per month!
After 22 weeks of treatment, Patrick lost 60.6 pounds. Through the benefits of weight loss, dietary improvement and exercise he no longer needs to use insulin. His most recent fasting blood sugar was 111, and HA1C was 4.6. Patrick is now controlling his diabetes with diet and exercise. One behavioral technique that he uses regularly is to distinguish between an urge to eat and actual hunger. Hunger is a physiological need that he recognizes when his stomach feels empty and it is several hours since his last meal. When he is hungry, any food will do. An urge to eat occurs when Patrick has a desire for a specific food even if he has recently eaten. He has learned to delay his response to urges to eat. He finds the nutrition education “The program was easy to and diabetes education to be follow,” Patrick explains, “the very helpful. Accountability is another aspect of the program that Patrick finds very helpful. He appreciates the close medical supervision. He had weekly visits with the program medical staff who specialize in the treatment of obesity.
group support reinforced my weight loss journey and the staff were very encouraging.” He continues, “The behavioral strategies covered in group meetings help me maintain my weight loss. I am very careful to avoid trigger foods.”
Patrick weighs himself daily to help maintain his weight. He continues to check his blood sugar twice a day. He is committed to following his meal plan. Patrick continues to work with a personal trainer to keep him motivated with his exercise routine.
Ask for more information at your next visit!
Patrick remarks, “My improvements in health and overall quality of life keep me focused on striving to maintain my weight loss. I highly recommend The Miriam Hospital Weight Management Program.”
To learn more about The Miriam Hospital Weight Management Program, register for a free orientation session. Call 401-444-4800.
The Miriam Hospital Weight Management Program 146 West River Street, Suite 11A, First Floor, Providence, RI 02904 www.miriamhospital.org/weight-management