DUBOIS – A renowned speaker and nationally-recognized diabetes nurse educator and family therapist will be the main speaker at the Diabetes Support Group at DuBois Regional Medical Center at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Joe Solowiejczyk specializes in how family dynamics impact the management of diabetes.
He has a family-oriented approach to diabetes management and consults diabetes clinics throughout the world on the design of educational and counseling programs for children and adults. He also conducts workshops for healthcare professionals.
“One reason he is so good as a speaker is that he deals with diabetes every day,” Jean Sheley, RN, also a certified diabetes educator and pump trainer, said
Solowiejczyk will address the problems that younger people may have about feeling different, she said, and the feeling that they can’t cope with it some days.
There are frustrations for people with diabetes because blood-sugar readings can go up and down for no reason, and Solowiejczyk discusses these frustrations.
“He has good solutions and good ways to feel about diabetes so it’s not so negative and you feel all is lost,” Sheley said.
Solowiejczyk is an inspiration for anyone, Sheley said, but is especially a dynamic speaker for younger people and teens to hear.
Solwiejczyk is healthcare professional who has lived with Type 1 diabetes for over 40 years and has an impressive background.
Among his accomplishments, he helped start and build the Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center at Columbia University Medical Center, New York, a comprehensive, family-focused center for diabetes research, education and patient care.
He also worked as a consultant in California at Children’s Hospital Oakland and at the Oakland Unified School District where he developed and coordinated the implementation of a unique in-district diabetes program, the first of its kind in the country.
Solwiejczyk has appeared in San Francisco media as well as National Public Radio’s “All Things Considered.” He has written numerous columns.
Solwiejczyk, the clinical manager of counseling and presentations for Animas Corporation, an insulin pump company based in West Chester, will be speaking at DRMC’s east campus in the multi-purpose room on the second floor.
This program is free and open to anyone who has diabetes or is a friend or family member of someone with diabetes.
For more information, call DRMC’s Diabetic and Weight Management Clinic at 375-6383.