DPHHS announces dates for Montana Diabetes Professional Conference

From Department of Public Health and Human Services

Department of Public Health and Human Services officials announced that the 22nd annual Montana Diabetes Professional Conference is slated for Oct. 3-4 at the Delta Hotels by Marriott Helena Colonial.

Registration is now open. The cost to attend is $140. A discounted registration fee of $55 is available for students. Fees increase by $20 after Sept. 6.

“This conference is not only an excellent way to stay abreast of the newest information on diabetes management, but also serves as a time to network with colleagues and experts to address some of the unique challenges of providing diabetes care within Montana,” said DPHHS Medical Officer Greg Holzman, MD, MPH, a member of the conference planning committee.

The conference features presentations that will focus on:

• New updates in diabetes research and therapy

• Diabetes related ulcers and management

• Optimizing diabetes care, delivery and outcomes

• Food as medicine

• Diabetes and depression

This year’s conference will open with a keynote presentation by Anne Peters, MD, professor of clinical medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California and the Director of the USC Clinical Diabetes Programs. Her presentation will cover updates on the results from the cardiovascular safety studies of diabetes drugs. She will review recent medication updates and discuss the latest on the use and effectiveness of continuing glucose monitoring.

Friday, the speakers will further address opportunities for diabetes related care.

William Huval, MD of the Community Wound Healing and Hyperbaric Center in Missoula will focus his discussion around the treatment of diabetic ulcers and optimal present-day therapy/management. He will also discuss introductions on skin substitutes, hyperbaric oxygen therapy and prevention.

Kellie Rodriguez, RN, MSN, MBA, CDE, Director of Global Diabetes, within the Global Diabetes Program at Parkland Health and Hospital System of Texas, will present ideas on how to optimize diabetes care delivery and outcomes. Diabetes is a complex, costly and unrelenting disease, posing challenges for the person with diabetes, the care team and health care organizations. A Population Health framework aims to optimize diabetes care delivery and outcomes through effective assessment of a defined, population, risk stratification, engagement and person-centered communication and intervention delivery strategies. As supported with value-based health care, a coordinated team approach to care, founded on workforce training, leveraging and support is a key requirement for sustained and effective diabetes care delivery.

Cindy Kleckner, RDN, LD, FAND, adjunct professor at the Collin College Preseton Ridge Campus of Texas, will focus her session around the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension — DASH — Diet as an evidence-based lifestyle approach to healthy eating designed by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute to help prevent or reverse high blood pressure. The highly rated diet focuses on using whole food as medicine, is easy to follow and is nutritionally complete and sustainable. Research shows it not only achieved the goal to lower blood pressure, but other aspects of health improved as well, such as weight loss, blood sugar control in diabetes and reduction of cancer risk.

To conclude the conference, Joe Solowiejczyk, RN, MSW, CDE, President and founder of A Mile in My Shoes of San Francisco will provide attendees with a patient’s perspective on depression and its relationship with diabetes, as well as guidelines and clinical interventions that clinicians can implement to help their patients achieve high quality of life and optimal metabolic control.

The content is targeted toward healthcare professionals, especially nurses, dietitians, pharmacists, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, physicians (including family physicians, internists and endocrinologists). Continuing education credits will be available.

The conference is presented in conjunction with the Montana Diabetes Educators Network, which hold their annual Diabetes Education Conference immediately prior to this event on October 3.

For more information and to register, people visit http://www.umt.edu/sell/cps/diabetes or call the Conference Coordinator Michelle Eckert at (406) 243-6842 or email michelle.eckert@umontana.edu.