What can you expect from the Self-Management Track?
The staff at the Center works with your physician to assist you in your diabetes management, including your medications. It is a comprehensive program that provides you with the needed skills to keep your blood sugars in an acceptable range and thus avoid the complications from high blood sugar.

Why would I want to attend sessions at the CDC?
When diagnosed with diabetes, it is important that you understand the disease and know how to manage it. The staff at the Community Diabetes Center can help you do this. Your knowledge can make a big difference in your future health because you have the capacity to prevent or delay complications of diabetes. You can measure the damage done to the body structures at risk by monitoring your blood sugars and doing a HbA1c.

Things You Need to Know:
At the Community Diabetes Center, the nurse works very closely with your doctor by telephone and by sending regular reports on your health status. The order and timing of these visits as given below will be changed to meet your needs and questions. Also, a visit with the dietician can and will be substituted for a visit with the RN, dependent upon need. You should also understand the billing practices of the CDC. Your insurance company will be billed, but policies and plans differ tremendously. Lab work is additional.

Please remember that you have an active role in the process of blood sugar control. The staff is available to guide you. Although the program is structured, visits will be modified to meet individual schedules.

Basic Outline for the Self-Management Track:
Session One - One to One Visit with a RN
At this session, the nurse will look at your current medication schedule, your health history and especially review body parts that are damaged by high blood sugars, as well as your most recent blood sugar control. This session lasts approximately one hour and 15 minutes.

Session Two - General Diabetes Group
At this informal discussion, a RN will discuss the following topics: basic information on diabetes, blood sugar goals, blood sugar testing, preventing complications, the most current medications and much more. This session lasts approximately one hour.

Session Three - Carbohydrate/Diet Group
At this informal discussion, a registered dietician will provide information on basic carbohydrate counting, reading food labels, exercise, sick days, alcohol and suggested meal planning. You will learn how to include sugar and desserts in your diet. This session lasts approximately one hour and 15 minutes. (After attending this session, if you would like more individualized information, this can be scheduled one to one with the dietician.)

Session Four - Scheduled Visit with a RN
By this point, you will have gained a better understanding of current information in diabetes management. During the following one to one sessions, the staff will review specific problems and try to find the answers to questions you may still have. Sessions lasts approximately one half hour.

** Ideally, these first four sessions should occur weekly. Please bring your blood sugar records to all sessions. Lab work may be done if the RN or physician feels it is necessary for evaluation.

Session Five - Oral or Insulin Group (Whichever You are Using)
This group session reviews your medications and teaches you how to modify the medications for your specific lifestyle. This is done under your physician's supervision. Blood sugar goals are identified and you are taught how to achieve these goals. This session lasts approximately one hour and 15 minutes.

Session Six - Scheduled Visit with RN
This visit occurs approximately three months after you start the program. At this time, it is important to review the following:

Session Seven - Scheduled Visit with RN or Dietician
This visit, again, occurs about three months after your last visit. The HbA1c tells you, your doctor, and the CDC how much damage (sugar coating) has happened to your body. If your blood sugar control is acceptable, you may discontinue attending sessions at the Center and be monitored by your physician only. You also have the option to be seen periodically (three to six months) in the Center for updates. This is dependent upon your physician's preference. This session lasts one half hour.

Please feel free to discuss this outline with your physician or assigned RN. We want you to feel comfortable with the choice that you have made to attend the CDC. Commitment to this program will provide you with the tools necessary to control the symptoms of diabetes and the complications that can follow.