HEALTH BRIEFS
GriefShare to meet in Pensacola

Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola has established a grief support group called "GriefShare." The group will meet today from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Sacred Heart in the St. Catherine's classroom on the second floor of the main hospital. The support group is sponsored by those who understand the experience of loss and want to offer comfort and encouragement to help others during a difficult time. A total of 13 GriefShare sessions are scheduled to meet on Thursdays each week from Sept. 13 to Dec. 13.

The support group is free of charge. However, registration is required. To register, or for more information, please call 850-416- 7705.

Baptist offers Breast Cancer support group

The Baptist Cancer Institute is offering a breast cancer support group that will continue through Nov. 12.

Support group topics will be driven solely by the needs of the participants. Special emphasis will be placed on addressing issues that affect younger breast cancer patients who are working, supporting families and possibly caring for aging parents.

The breast cancer support group meets the second and fourth Monday of the month in Baptist Tower 3, second floor, in Cancer Support Services in Pensacola.

For more information, call Karen Cobb, oncology patient advocate, Baptist Hospital, at 850-469-7028.

Nemours awarded by ADA

The prestigious American Diabetes Association Education Recognition Certificate for a quality diabetes self-management education program was recently awarded to the Nemours' Pediatric Endocrinology Division in Pensacola for their Pediatric Diabetes Self- Management Education (DSME) program. DSME is a critical element of care for all people with diabetes and can help improve the quality of life. The program meets National Standards in teaching parents and children the complexities of testing blood sugars six to eight times per day and giving an average of four insulin injections daily. The families are expected to calculate doses of insulin and manage the meals in order to keep blood sugars within a defined range. This program assists them in managing diabetes to prevent the shortterm problems of low blood sugar or excessively high blood sugars.

ADA believes that this program offers high-quality education that is an essential component of effective diabetes treatment.

The Association's Education Recognition Certificate assures that educational programs meet the National Standards for Diabetes Self-Management Education Programs.

The American Diabetes Association is the nation's leading non-profit health organization supporting diabetes research, advocacy and information.