The Providence Diabetes and Nutrition Center will teach you how to manage various chronic diseases and diabetes of all types, including: Prediabetes, Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes in pregnancy, and pre-conception counseling. We do this through collaborative, responsive diabetes education which follows American Diabetes Association guidelines, to empower you to control and manage your diabetes and related conditions. We also provide ongoing support, as well as medical referrals when necessary.
What is Diabetes Education?
Diabetes education, also known as diabetes self-management training (DSMT) or diabetes self-management education (DSME), is a process through which people with or at risk for diabetes gain the knowledge and skills needed to modify their behavior and successfully self-manage the disease and its related conditions. Diabetes education can take place in a group or one-on-one setting as part of a formal (recognized or accredited education program) or informal format.
It is important for anyone with diabetes to understand the daily management of this serious disease. By learning about lifestyle changes and the clinical management of diabetes, we can work together with you or your loved ones to improve health and manage your disease.
Our Comprehensive DSME sessions meet 9 content areas:
- Describing the diabetes disease process and treatment options
- Incorporating nutritional management into lifestyle
- Incorporating physical activity into lifestyle
- Using medication(s) safely and for maximum therapeutic effectiveness
- Monitoring blood glucose and other parameters and interpreting and using the results for self-management decision making
- Preventing and detecting acute complications
- Developing personal strategies to address psychosocial issues and concerns
- Developing personal strategies to promote health and behavior change
The diabetes team partners with each patient to also teach them The American Association of Diabetes Educators (AADE) 7™ Self-Care Behaviors: healthy eating, being active, monitoring, taking medication, problem solving, reducing risks, and healthy coping.
Specifically, at Providence Diabetes and Nutrition Center we will:
- Present basic and advanced information about diabetes and its management.
- Train you and your family to use diabetes devices, including blood glucose meters, insulin syringes or pens. Insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors can be coordinated and referred to our Providence Hospital Endocrinologist.
- Instruct in problem solving strategies and skills to self-manage diabetes
- Guide you to set and achieve behavior-change goals.
- Provide nutrition education, including diabetes meal-planning, weight loss strategies, and other disease-specific nutrition counseling.
- Provide medication management based on physician-directed protocols by coordinating your referral to our Providence Hospital Endocrinologist.
- Educate you about best practices to reduce risk of diabetes complications.
- Help you develop emotional coping skills.
What to expect at the Diabetes and Nutrition Center at Providence Hospital
Diabetes self-management training (DSMT) and Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) require a referral from your primary care provider. Consult your primary care physician for a referral – if you do not have a primary care provider, the Providence Diabetes and Nutrition Center can help you find one.
Once your completed referral form is received, we will verify your insurance. If your insurance doesn’t cover the Providence services you desire, you also have the option to self-pay, based on a sliding scale.
Once we’ve received the referral, you will get a call from our office to set up a one-on-one appointment with our Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE). During this initial assessment, the educator will want to understand your successes and struggles with diabetes. In addition to health concerns, we will discuss your dietary and lifestyle habits, work situation, home environment, and other factors that affect your diabetes. After the assessment is completed, we will design a diabetes education plan.
Resources in Your Neighborhood
To find a physician who can help you manage your chronic condition, click here or call our physician referral services line at 1-855-823-WELL.
To find out more about the Providence Diabetes and Nutrition Center, or to make an appointment with one of our specialists, call 202-854-7128 on Monday – Friday between 8AM – 5PM.
The Providence Diabetes and Nutrition Center is located at: Providence Hospital Suite 110 – DePaul Professional Building
1160 Varnum Street, NE
Washington, DC 20017