St. Rita's Community Diabetes Center offers a service called Survival Skills.
If your physician has requested you to attend sessions designed to teach you
how to manage your diabetes, this is the right program for you. The goal of
this program is to give you basic education about diabetes including diet,
exercise and medications Your physician will be responsible for managing your
medications. The first two visits are weekly. After that, you may be scheduled
in two to four weeks for the remaining two or three visits, depending on your
schedule and blood sugar control.
Session One - General Diabetes Group
At this informal session, a RN will discuss basic information relating to
the disease of diabetes, blood sugar goals, how and best times to test your
blood sugar, preventing complications and how your medications work. You will
also learn about the test that shows how much damage has been done to your
eyes, kidneys, heart and feet. This session lasts approximately one hour.
Session Two - Carbohydrate/Diet Group
At this informal session, a registered dietician will provide information
on basic, carbohydrate counting, reading food labels, and suggested meal planning. (After
attending this session, if you would like more individualized information,
this can be scheduled one to one with the dietician.) This session
lasts approximately one hour.
Session Three - One to One Visit with a Registered Nurse
At this session, the nurse will be looking at your current medication schedule,
your health history (especially focusing on those parts of your body damaged
by diabetes) and your most recent blood sugar control. This session lasts
approximately one hour.
Session Four - Scheduled Visit with a Registered Dietician
At this point, you have gained a better understanding of current information
in diabetes management. In the one to one sessions with the dietician, you
will have the opportunity to individualize your dietary habits and yet maintain
blood sugar control. Session three or four may be held with the dietician
or nurse depending on your needs. This session lasts approximately 30 minutes
to one hour.
After you have completed this educational program in diabetes management,
you will exit from the Center and team with your physician for follow-up care.
Your insurance company will be billed, but policies and plans differ tremendously.
Lab work, if completed, is additional. Lab work may be done if RN/MD
feels it is necessary and if your insurance plan so permits. Every effort is
made to prevent duplication.
