Ever wonder what the fat content of a double cheeseburger and fries looks like?
   Registered dietitian Karleen Thompson from the Roseau Area Diabetes Center can show you.
   In fact, the Diabetes Center can provide all sorts of helpful information about making healthy life choices.
   Created in 2000 through a partnership between LifeCare Medical Center and Altru Clinic-Roseau, the Roseau Area Diabetes Center is an excellent resource for people with diabetes and anyone with a pre-diabetes diagnosis.
   "Some people assume our only role is to help people check their blood sugar, but that's just the beginning," Thompson says.
   The center sponsors a free educational DVD collection about physical exercise that is available for checkout at the LifeCare Rehabilitation Services locations in Roseau and Warroad.
   "Besides teaching people how to watch their diet and check their blood sugar, we want people to be aware of how much exercise helps control or even prevents diabetes,"  she says.  "We work closely with each person to develop an exercise plan that is best for them."
   The center also offers services for those who need assistance with diet and blood sugar monitoring.
   "We cover the entire gamut, from teaching someone what numbers to look for when testing their blood sugar, to knowing what an AIC is.  We also give them one of these," she says, holding up a thick little book showing the calorie, fat, and carbohydrate content of just about any food imaginable, ranging from fast food to the treats found only at a county fair.

Registered Dietitian Karleen Thompson displays a basket of artificial foods and a nutrition guide used to help demonstrate smart food choices for diabetics.

   "If you can eat it, it's probably in the book," she says.
   The center helps patients choose an appropriate glucose meter and helps determine if it and the related supplies will be covered by insurance.
Continuous Monitoring
   The Roseau Area Diabetes Center supplies its patients with blood glucose meters, also known as blood sugar meters.  However, for someone struggling with their blood sugar, a standard meter sometimes isn't enough.
   Fortunately, the center now offers a service known as continuous glucose monitoring.
   "This is an ideal way to track glucose levels, especially for someone who does all the regular testing but still has difficulty controlling their blood sugar," Thompson says.
   A continuous glucose monitor works by checking blood sugar levels every five minutes.  For this to happen, a small monitoring device is inserted beneath the skin of the abdomen.  Worn for several days, the device records information day and night through a tiny sensor.
   The wearer also logs daily activities, food intake, and medications taken during that time.  The device is later removed and linked to a computer which generates a full report, allowing the person to see how blood sugars reacted at meal time, during activity, and during rest.
   "Once you see the results you can really focus on what is causing you to feel sleepy or elevate the AIC," she says.
   Along with display booths spotlighting insulin pumps, diabetes footwear, diet, and exercise, the new monitor will be featured at the Diabetes Health Fair, being held this year in cooperation with the May Diabetes Walk/Run on Saturday, May 2 at the Roseau City Center.  Refreshments, recipes, door prizes and more will be available.
   In addition, watch for information in March on upcoming Doug's Supermarket tours scheduled for March 19 in Warroad and March 26 in Roseau, where blood sugar screening and tours on smart shopping for diabetes control will be offered.
   To learn more, please call Dawn Hedlund at (218) 463-4773 or Karleen Thompson at (218) 463-4773.