Diabetes and eating disorders are serious medical conditions. When these conditions are combined, they can be dangerous. Some individuals have learned how to take only enough insulin to survive. Without enough insulin, the calories they consume are not used by their body, but are carried out in the urine, so the person maintains a low body weight. Patients with both diabetes and an eating disorder participate in components of our specially designed Diabetes Program, which has been awarded Recognition by the American Diabetes Association in accordance with the National Standards for Diabetes Patient Education.
Adolescents with diabetes learn and practice healthy eating and exercise habits, as well as cooking skills and medication management. They participate in Cumberland’s EAT (Eating Attitudes Training) group, learning to make healthy choices in the cafeteria and at restaurants.
Our Eating Disorders Program addresses issues such as body image, nutrition and positive attitudes and helps adolescents change their distorted thinking patterns. The patients in this program progress through a series of phases, each of which builds on the progress made in the previous phase. Levels of care and types of services vary depending on each patient’s need in any particular phase.
The family dynamic is a critical element in both the Diabetes and Eating Disorders Program. During family therapy, families learn healthy ways to help their child and all family members live with their child’s illness. And intensive individual and group psychotherapies address each patient’s unique emotional and behavioral issues.
Positive Behavioral Supports: Throughout treatment, Cumberland’s staff use an individualized behavior program to encourage acceptable behaviors rather than punishing negative ones. With appropriate behaviors, patients earn privileges. This system provides positive feedback, and patients see an immediate reward for appropriate behaviors.
Consistent treatment is critical for patients to continue to improve. Staff members are in constant communication regarding the status of each patient. Detailed data sheets help all staff involved in the care of each patient to know the progress and events at any given time during treatment.
CUMBERLAND'S SUCCESSFUL FORMULA- Pediatric and adolescent focus
- Physical and emotional issues in tandem
- Treatment of complex medical issues
- Specialization in treatment of diabetes
and eating disorders
- Ability to manage aggressive behaviors
- Realistic and practical life-skills training
- On-site Cumberland Academy
- Creative treatment approaches
- On-site physicians and medial specialists
- Peaceful, theraputic setting