Our diabetes care team is made up of nationally-certified diabetes educators, mental health counselors, registered dietitians and nurses all working together to develop an individualized care plan that fits your lifestyle.

While there is no cure for diabetes, our goal is to help each patient and their family understand the complexities of the disease and how to effectively manage it through our Diabetes Self-Management Education Program.

The Program

Our 12-month outpatient program is made up of an initial seven hours of instruction and three one-hour follow-up group sessions at three, six and 12 months after the initial session. The initial session is made up of a one-hour assessment and two group sessions, which include these topics:

• Diabetes overview
• Effect of food, exercise and medicine on blood glucose levels
• Principles of healthy eating
• Anti-diabetic medications
• Issuance and instruction on glucose meter
• Record-keeping
• Goal setting

• Hypoglycemia/Hyperglycemia
• Monitoring and complications
• Foot exam
• Coping
• Behavior modification

• Nutrition – individualized exchange meal plan
• Sick day management
• Exercise
• Traveling, skin, dental
• Review management skills

After the initial session, the follow-up sessions offer a chance for patients to evaluate their progress and discuss their goals. Additional services include insulin instruction, individual nutrition consults and gestational diabetes consults.

Recognized by the American Diabetes Association for Quality Self-Management Education, the Diabetes Awareness group meets monthly to provide extra support to patients with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes and their families. The group covers a variety of topics including healthy eating, latest treatment care options and open forums to share experiences.

The group meets the fourth Tuesday of every month, 6 - 7 p.m. in the St. Mary Medical Center Brother’s Conference Room by the Annex Courtyard. Please call 760-946-8170 for more information.