Diabetes Awareness Matters

November is National Diabetes Awareness Month. Did you know that:

1 out of 10 people have diabetes

1 out of 3 adults have prediabetes

One-third of all Medicare participants have diabetes

Bluestem Health’s Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialists, Joni and Molly, share their medical expertise and experience with our patients every day and are a trusted source for diabetes support in our community.

Meet the Bluestem Health Diabetes Team

Bluestem Health is fortunate to have two certified diabetes care and education specialists to help meet the needs of the patients in our clinics.

Joni Pagenkemper, MS, RD, LMNT, CDCES and Molly Petrik, RD, LMNT, CDCES are our Registered Dietitians & Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialists. With over 20 years of experience, they work with Bluestem Health patients and their providers to manage the care of diabetes and other health conditions. Their job is to help patient’s problem-solve, as well as develop knowledge and skills to help manage their diabetes care.

Joni Pagenkemper

MS, RD, LMNT, CDCES

Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist

Molly Petrik

RD, LMNT, CDCES

Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist

For Joni and Molly, meeting people wherever they are in their diabetes management journey is most important. Helping them be successful in fitting diabetes into their lifestyle or making healthier lifestyle changes are goals they work toward. They focus on seven self-care behaviors:

• Healthy eating
• Being active
• Monitoring
• Taking medication
• Problem solving
• Healthy coping
• Reducing risks

The Role of Patient Health Education

Patients at Bluestem Health in Lincoln who live with chronic disease or complex medical conditions have access to specialized education and counseling services at no charge. The Patient Health Education team at Bluestem Health includes certified diabetes care & education specialists, dietitians/nutritionists, chronic disease management nurses, and a community health coordinator.

By meeting with each patient individually, the Patient Health Education team is able to educate them on their treatment between regular appointments with their providers. Our patients with diabetes know that we are here to provide them with ongoing education about their chronic disease and to support them in making healthy lifestyle choices.

To schedule a free appointment to meet with one of our Certified Diabetes Care & Education Specialists at Bluestem Health or to learn more about how to manage your diabetes and enjoy a healthy life, call 402-476-1455 or ask about scheduling an appointment during your regular visit.