Diabetes Education Program

About 8 percent of the population has diabetes and health experts expect that figure to rise to about 10% in the next 10-15 years. In addition, Type 2 diabetes is now being diagnosed in much younger individuals, including teenagers.

To try and help, we teach people with diabetes and their families how to manage their diabetes instead of letting diabetes control them. Our diabetes staff includes registered nurses and a registered, licensed dietitian. By sharing their knowledge, the long term complications associated with high blood glucose (sugar) can be limited. Our program includes both individual and group sessions.

Individual Sessions

The first session is a one-hour individual consultation that involves documenting a patient history and assessing educational needs. It also includes hands-on instruction in self-monitoring blood glucose levels and teaching basic diabetes “survival skills.”

Group Sessions

New group sessions start the first week of each month. Sessions are held at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday evenings and/or 1:30 p.m. Wednesday afternoons. Topics for each session include the following:

• Session 1 (2½ hours)
  • Diabetes Process & Treatment Overview
  • Glucose Monitoring
  • Meal Planning and Carbohydrate Counting
  • Physical Activity
• Session 2 (2 hours)
  • Monitoring & Meter Care
  • Health and Behavior Change
  • Meal Planning and Dining Out
  • Acute Complications
  • Sick Day Management
• Session 3 (2 hours)
  • Natural Changes of Diabetes
  • Preventing Chronic Complications
  • Meal Planning & Heart Health
• Session 4 (1½ hours)
  • Diabetes Care Schedule
  • Meal Planning and Food Labels
  • Community Resources
  • Motivation and Ongoing Support

Follow-ups will be conducted at three and six month intervals.

Your Doctor’s Role

A physician referral is required to get into the program and all information from your sessions is shared with your doctor. This ensures that the program will help your health care team assist you in reaching your goals.

Program Costs

Please call Trinity Muscatine Diabetes Education at (563) 262-4131 for the cost of individual and group sessions.  You may want to check with your insurer to make sure the cost of the program is covered. If not, program costs will be your responsibility.