On Tuesday, June 19, from 6-8 p.m., the diabetes clinic at Bridgton Hospital will offer a special presentation called the A1C Champions Program.

A1C Champions are individuals who successfully control their diabetes and want to help others do the same.

The A1C Champion speaker at Bridgton Hospital will be Ruth Charme of Brooklyn, N.Y. Ruth was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 1986. She will be talking about the importance of taking control of diabetes.

The presentations will offer people with diabetes information on diabetes and how to achieve good blood sugar control, helpful suggestions and encouragement so that they, too, can enjoy a healthier life.

“A1C Champions serve as role models to other diabetes patients and provide a support system that encourages patients to take control of the disease,” said Elaine Drew, RN, Bridgton Hospital’s certified diabetes educator. “There is a huge need for compassionate patient mentors. Diabetes is a complicated disease and too many patients aren’t taking care of themselves, which puts them at risk for serious diabetes-related complications.”

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends that, in general, people with diabetes strive for an A1C (a test that measures average blood glucose levels over a two to three-month period) of less than 7 percent. Alarmingly, more than 50 percent of people with diabetes are not in control of their disease. A 2005 survey commissioned by the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists found that 84 percent of people with Type 2 diabetes surveyed believed they were doing a good job controlling their blood sugar, even though 61 percent went on to say they did not know what an A1C test is.

Diabetes is a chronic, widespread condition in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin, the hormone needed to convert glucose (sugar) into energy. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that more than 20 million Americans – 7 percent of the population – have diabetes, including an estimated 6.2 million who do not yet know they have the disease.

The Bridgton Hospital Diabetes Clinic was recently awarded the prestigious American Diabetes Association Education Recognition Certificate for its quality diabetes self-management education program. To register for this free presentation, contact Elaine Drew at Bridgton Hospital, 647-6060.