The document outlines the mission and model of the Diabetes Wellness Center, which aims to supplement medical care for those living with diabetes. The DWC recognizes diabetes affects many aspects of life beyond health. Its goals are to create a supportive community, educate members, and help overcome obstacles through services like counseling, exercise programs, diabetes education, healthy cooking classes, and stress management. The DWC founder hopes this holistic approach will empower individuals and change the course of diabetes management.

2. The Diabetes Wellness Center,
Inc.
A Model for Engaging-In
and Sustaining a Healthy Life –
How to Juggle Body, Soul, and Mind

3. Preface: Acknowledgements
• Medical care is integral to living with diabetes. The Diabetes
Wellness Center’s purpose is to supplement the care the DWC
members receive from their medical practitioners. More
specifically, the objective of the DWC is to meet the needs that
are not addressed in the diabetes medical model.
• The Diabetes Community, as a whole, owes a debt of gratitude
to all of those, with and without diabetes, who dedicate and have
dedicated their lives to improving the treatment of diabetes.
Where would we be without Dr. Banting?

4. Preface: Acknowledgements
• The tremendous efforts in science and medicine are truly
admirable; however these are not the only aspects that can be
addressed in order to improve the lives of people with diabetes.
• The DWC will work closely with the medical and scientific
communities to maximize the breadth of opportunities for DWC
members, in addition to working collaboratively to study the
benefits of the DWC program.

5. The Premise for a New
Diabetes Model

6. Premise for a New Diabetes Model
• Diabetes is much more than just a health condition. It affects
nearly every area of an individual’s life.
• Current methodologies focusing primarily on the medical
components of diabetes are missing tremendous opportunities to
generate desired sustainable changes for the individuals, families
and communities living with it.
• The vast majority of efforts attempting to positively affect the
plight of individuals who have diabetes, has been and continues
to be, based on the same paradigm: a medical paradigm.

7. Premise for a New Diabetes Model
• It is unrealistic to expect that programs based on strikingly
limited efforts to assist people in changing the way they live their
lives will ever demonstrate results much better than what we see
now.
• While technologies and pharmaceuticals have improved and
become more specialized; the average life with diabetes
continues to be fraught with microvascular and macrovascular
complications, in addition to frequently unrecognized and
unaddressed senses of fear, trauma, shame, depravity,
depression, judgment, as well as many of the other things
experienced during the individual’s life.

8. Premise for a New Diabetes Model
• Solving the diabetes epidemic is proving to be much more
challenging compared to other epidemics.
• The reality is that over 95% of diabetes care is done by the
person who has it. If that person is disenfranchised, lacking in
resources, overwhelmed, in denial, or dealing with any other
confounding issues, then the majority of diabetes-care is likely
ignored.
• Attempts to change the plight of the diabetes epidemic will fail,
without focusing the majority of efforts on helping individuals
living with diabetes to help themselves.

9. Premise for a New Diabetes Model
• The Diabetes Wellness Center offers a revolutionary grassroots
response to address this ever expanding epidemic and potential
threat to the security of this great Nation.
• Something must change; we, as individuals, communities,
nations, and world, can not afford to continue to stay the current
course of diabetes.
• It’s time to stop pressing the button for the elevator, which is
not coming, and take the life-preserving stairs!

10. Mission Statement of the
Diabetes Wellness Center, Inc.

11. Mission Statement of DWC
• The Diabetes Wellness Center is a nonprofit
community-based diabetes center dedicated to
empowering individuals living with diabetes to identify,
address and overcome the physical, psychological,
social, financial, and environmental obstacles and
barriers to living well with diabetes.

12. Goals of the Diabetes
Wellness Center

13. Goals of the DWC
• A primary goal for the DWC is to create a community where
currently there virtually is none. Community development is
integral to the success of this Diabetes (R)Evolution.
• An integral element of human evolution was the development of
community. Our species may very well not have survived if not
for this evolutionary tool. Yet, in the U.S. today, communities
are becoming a relic. Hence, it is no wonder why so many are
struggling through their existence. Humans need each other!

14. Goals of the DWC
• Other goals are to educate and empower all members so they
will be more inclined to choose healthier options, and join
together to in order to achieve workable homogeneous solutions,
thus creating a sense of belonging for all of those who live with
diabetes.
• These experiences of feeling a “part of” can be beneficial in
addressing feelings of isolation, which can be extremely
detrimental to making and sustaining life-long changes.

15. Goals of the DWC
• One of the long-term objectives is for people across the United
States and World to have DWCs in each of their communities.
• Ultimately the Diabetes Community, once organized, will be the
largest single-interest voting sector in the United States.
• The Diabetes Community has the potential to make the political
and legislative changes necessary to solve many of the virtually
insurmountable challenges that people living with diabetes face
today.

16. The Diabetes Wellness
Center’s Target Audience

17. DWC’s Target Audience
• Everyone is welcomed to be a member of the DWC!
• The DWC strives to engage most, if not all, people living with
diabetes.
• “Living with diabetes,” for all intents and purposes, is defined as:
having diabetes, being related to someone with diabetes, as well
as being connected to someone with diabetes – whether it is a
friend, boss, or bus driver.
• It seems that ALL of us are living with diabetes, whether we
know it or not.

18. Why the Diabetes Wellness
Center Model Differs from
Other Medical Models

19. Why the DWC Model Differs
• “Poorly controlled diabetes is the leading cause of adult
blindness, end-stage renal disease and non-traumatic lower-limb
amputations. It also doubles the risk of stroke and heart
disease.”1
• This remains true despite all of the amazing technological and
pharmacological advancements made over the past 30 years.
1. American Association of Diabetes
Educators, Diabetes Fact Sheet

20. Why the DWC Model Differs
• A primary component of these failures is the standardized efforts
to address diabetes solely from an interventionist medical model,
when the reality is diabetes is much more than merely a medical
issue.
• Another contributing element is continuing to use “trickle-
down” models as a means to change this health crisis.

21. Why the DWC Model Differs
• The current “trickle-down” model of academics and scientists
determining standards of medical care, medical professionals
doling out treatment plans, and insurance companies
determining accessibility and availability of resources leaving the
individual with diabetes at the bottom struggling just to navigate
this maze, much less make it all happen within the confines of
their life is insufficient at best.
• Is it any wonder why it hasn’t worked?!

22. Why the DWC Model Differs
• The solutions we are looking for lie with the individuals who live
with diabetes. They know (or with some help will know) what
limits their motivation and desire to employ daily efforts of self-
care.
• The foundation of all diabetes management must be the
individual in order to sustain the necessary lifelong efforts.
• This is precisely why the DWC is dedicated to extensively
educating, offering resources, and vitally empowering each
individual to be a competent center of self-care.
• The DWC model uses and expands upon the successful
components of current paradigms.

23. How the Diabetes Wellness
Center Model Differs from
Other Medical Models

24. How the DWC Model Differs
• The Diabetes Wellness Center is a concerted effort to change the
ways and means of which diabetes is addressed, as an individual,
a community, a country and world.
• The DWC’s distinct efforts are specifically designed to diverge
from the lunacy of continuing to deal with diabetes - using the
same methods that continue to perpetuate negligible hope for
people living with diabetes.

25. How the DWC Model Differs
• “Diabetes management” is typically isolated from almost every
other aspect of life. This compartmentalized approach is often
futile over the long haul, and diabetes is “hauled” for the rest of
one’s life.
• What is desperately needed are; livable-treatments for livable-
conditions.
• It is with this notion that the DWC is helping individuals, not
just treating diabetes.

26. How the DWC Model Differs
• For most living with diabetes, they are told what not to do and
what not to be like. It often goes something like this: “See that
person who went blind from not taking care of his diabetes?
Don’t be like them.”
• This approach is ineffective in attempting to improve people’s
desire, ability and motivation to take better care of themselves.
• The DWC advocates a different means to invoke behavior
changes.

27. How the DWC Model Differs
• Humans learn by modeling behavior, so the DWC will offer
examples of how to live well. Members will have the
opportunity to participate in a mentorship program. This
program’s benefits transcend the individuals involved.
• The mentee will have a person, who lives with diabetes, to assist
in understanding how to maneuver the numerous challenges and
barriers to living well with diabetes.

28. How the DWC Model Differs
• The mentor receives the benefit of living a life as an example.
There are times when self-care can be difficult to muster the
energy for, and in those moments it can be beneficial to have the
knowledge that people look to you for your example of self-love
and self-care.
• The DWC will staff therapists who offer one on one sessions,
family sessions, as well as group sessions.
• The DWC also offers potential solutions to address and
overcome the under-recognized and under-treated depression
that is associated in living with a chronic condition.

29. How the DWC Model Differs
• Some 85% of people living with type 2 diabetes are overweight,
obese or morbidly obese. A pertinent question to ask is: how do
people care for themselves, if they don’t care about themselves?
The simple answer is: they don’t.
• For many people it is nearly impossible to get a handle on weight
management without also addressing any coexisting
psychological issues.

30. How the DWC Model Differs
• One of the greatest challenges people living with diabetes face is
without a doubt getting sufficient physical activity.
• The DWC will staff exercise physiologists who give personalized
physical assessments, as well as individualized activity programs.
• The center will host activity classes on-site, through-out each
day. The classes offered will depend on the interests of the
community. Some possibilities include: Pilates, yoga, tai-chi, kick
boxing and salsa dancing.

31. How the DWC Model Differs
• Many people living with diabetes are not able to afford to take
care of their diabetes.
• Financial problems pose many risks and challenges for the
individual, the family as well as the diabetes community.
• Financial constraints force individuals to make seemingly
impossible choices. Do you pay rent or buy your test strips?
This is a question which should not have to be asked, and yet is
asked by far more people than anyone realizes.

32. How the DWC Model Differs
• The DWC will staff advisors to assist members in identifying,
applying, and sustaining eligibility for programs available to assist
with the financial challenges of living with a chronic condition,
such as diabetes.
• It is in the interest of all Americans to have people living with
diabetes succeed and live well. The social, financial, and political
implications of perpetuating the circumstances that fuel the
diabetes epidemic are dismal for everyone, whether they have
diabetes or not.

33. How the DWC Model Differs
• It is imperative to consider the long-term implications of this
national diabetes epidemic and international pandemic, when
thinking about where, when and how to spend the limited
resources available to improve the state of diabetes.
• Funding for the DWC is seeding for change.

34. How the DWC Model Differs
• The financial implications of the diabetes epidemic may very well
be the final straw that bankrupts the United States.
• Income tax is the financial basis for most Federal and State
programs. Where will be when people who have diabetes and
did not get the adequate care, resources, and empowerment
needed to live well; end up suffering preventable end-stage
complications of uncontrolled diabetes, loose their jobs and then
rather than contributing to the tax system, they are positioned to
necessitate tax-funded services like Medicare and Social Security?

35. There Is Hope!

36. There Is Hope!
• The Diabetes Wellness Center is dedicated to changing the
course of diabetes in our lifetime.
• With the power of the people living with diabetes, anything is
possible.
• Together we can change the World!

37. The Diabetes Wellness
Center’s Model Program

38. The DWC Model
• The DWC program includes, but is not limited to, the following:
• Diabetes Education:
– Registered Dieticians, Certified Diabetes Educators (R.D.,
C.D.E.) and Registered Nurses, Certified Diabetes Educators
(R.N., C.D.E.) will teach one and one, groups, and family
sessions.
– Comprehensive, on-going diabetes education is integral to
living well with diabetes.

39. The DWC Model
• Counseling:
– Therapists will hold one on one, groups and family sessions.
– Groups will develop to support varying aspects of life with
diabetes including; women's, men's, teen’s, parent’s, spouse’s,
walker’s, joker’s, spiritual groups in addition to many others.
– Each member will be asked to share their experience,
strength and hope.

40. The DWC Model
• Physically Active:
– Exercise physiologists will assess each member’s ability to do
physical activity and will give recommendations tailored to
each individual’s needs and wants.
– On-going activity classes will be held on-site, through out
each day. These classes will be chosen by members, as to
give the people what they want, whether it is Yoga, Tai-Chi,
Salsa Dancing, or Line Dancing.

41. The DWC Model
• Programs Advisors:
– Caseworkers will assist members in maximizing their ability
to utilize any and all programs available to them including but
not limited to: Federal, State, County, and Private Programs.

42. The DWC Model
• Volunteering:
– Members will be asked to offer their services to the
membership.
– Mentoring will be taught to members who will in turn mentor
others, which will create tremendous opportunities to keep
people engaged.
– Other opportunities include:
• Offering rides to the center as to alleviate concerns of people who are
limited by transportation,
• Taking care of children in activity area so parents can freely attend
classes, groups or sessions,
• Donating others services.

43. The DWC Model
• Diabetes Outreach Ambassadors:
– Members will be trained to do outreach efforts of teaching
the basics of diabetes care in order to reach as many people
as possible.
– Such efforts are hoped to reign-in and engage those who are
not being seen by the medical community.
– Members are encouraged to do such outreach efforts at their
churches, book clubs, or other groups.

44. The DWC Model
• Healthy Eating & Cooking:
– The Center will offer healthy eating classes instructed by
Registered Dieticians. The DWC hopes to partner with local
farmers and growers to host “Farmer’s Market’s” on site.
One goal is to increase opportunities for members of the
center to choose healthier, economical food choices.

45. The DWC Model
• Healthy Eating & Cooking (cont):
– The Center will include Nona Bella’s Cucina; a kitchen where
members will learn, and then teach, how to cook nutritious,
cultural, and frugal meals.
– A potential partnership may arise out of a proposed Healthy
Eating effort. Registered Dietician will work with local
grocery stores to host on-site: “Living Well- the Art of
Grocery Shopping”

46. The DWC Model
• Stress Management:
– The DWC will offer many different tools to assist members
in managing stress, which is paramount to sustaining a life-
long healthy approach to life. The Center will offer courses
on meditation, in addition to other techniques.
– One such technique to be offered is art therapy. Members
will be invited to create art using a space set-aside for such
activities. They will also be encouraged to donate some of
their works of art for an annual fundraising event, in which
pieces will be auctioned off to patrons of the Diabetes
Wellness Center.

47. Closing Comments from the
Founder

48. Closing Comments
During my 30-year experience of living with diabetes, I have
come to realize that the challenges I face in trying to juggle body,
mind, and soul with diabetes are ever present for most people
living with this condition.
I, like many of those living with diabetes, spent vast amounts of
time being angry and defiant about having to live this life with
diabetes. I had not asked for diabetes, I resented having it and
therefore did not want to manage it.
I was on the verge of being ravaged by the complications of
uncontrolled diabetes, when I finally learned to embrace myself,
my life, and my diabetes.

49. Closing Comments
I believe this transformation is possible for most individuals who
are struggling to live well with diabetes, but there must be a
catalyst to spark a desire and structure to sustain the changes.
The Diabetes Wellness Center hopes to provide the sparks and
structure for all of those who wish to live well with diabetes.
~ Heather Jacobs, Founder and President

50. Questions?

51. Thank you!

52. The DWC Executive Board
• Heather Jacobs: Founder, and President
• Chesney Hoagland-Fuchs, RN, CDE: Chief Financial
Officer
• Isabel Estolano: Vice-President and Secretary
• Francine Genta, RD, CDE: Board Member
• Javaier Carillo, MPH: Board Member
• Tim Aquino, Pharm D: Board Member
• Chandra Ziel RD, CDE: Board Member