Diabetes Education

Diabetes Self Management

The Diabetes Self Management Program is certified by the American Diabetes Association as a recognized program ensuring the continued delivery of high quality care to all patients.  Diabetes management establishes and coordinates, with assistance from the medical director, the clinical teaching and learning aspects of the program for patients and their families. 

Our Certified Diabetes Educators (CDE), who are Registered Nurses (RN) and Registered Dietitians (RD), act as liaisons between the hospital, physicians, patients and families. 

Through appropriate self-management, unnecessary hospital admissions and some of the acute and chronic complications of diabetes can be prevented.  Our Diabetes Program has demonstrated that it provides quality self-management education services to the Lowcountry diabetes community. The knowledge of our diabetes team extends to management of complex care issues involving multiple disease states and medications.

Our outpatient diabetes education services include a one-on-one initial assessment with the Certified Diabetes Educator then group classes including: Overview and basics of diabetes, Stress Management, Goal Setting, Meal Planning, Monitoring Blood Sugars, Exercise, Sick Day Management, Medications and Complications of Diabetes.  

Our classes concentrate on the seven self-care behaviors set forth by the AADE

1. Healthy Eating
2. Being Active
3. Monitoring
4. Taking Medication
5. Problem Solving
6. Healthy Coping
7. Reducing Risks 

Patients are able to set their own goals based on the seven self-care behaviors and goals will be measured at follow-up visits.

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Educational Opportunities

Diabetes Education  

This four week class is for Type 1 or 2 diabetes or those with pre-diabetes. Classes are two hours and are held at either Trident Medical Center or Summerville Medical Center on Tuesday nights or Thursday mornings. The four series classes include the following topics:

1. Overview of Diabetes and Stress Management
2. Meal Planning
3. Monitoring Blood Sugars and Exercise
4. Medications and Complications of Diabetes

Participants are required to attend an initial assessment prior to taking this class. You may schedule an appointment by calling the Centralized Scheduling Dept at 1-877-357-0156 or faxing the physician’s referral form to the Centralized Scheduling Dept at (843) 847-4943.

Gestational Diabetes Class

All gestational classes are one-on-one with the diabetes educator and dietitian. Classes are approximately two hours and are offered daily at Trident Medical Center. The class will cover the following topics:

• Assessing the patient’s needs
• What gestational diabetes is and why it occurs (risk factors)
• Caring for gestational diabetes
• Controlling blood sugar ( how to use meter and blood sugar goals)
• Meal planning (carbohydrate counting)
• Exercise recommendations
• Insulin (if necessary)
• Signs, symptoms and treatment of hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia

Individuals may enroll in our diabetes program with a referral from their physician. Call the Centralized Scheduling Dept at 1-877-357-0156 to schedule an appointment or fax the physician’s referral form to the Centralized Scheduling Department at (843) 847-4943.

Pre-Diabetes Class

This one hour class is offered quarterly at Trident Medical Center, in Classroom A, from 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm. This class is offered free to the public and interested patients should call (843) 847-5000 to register as space is limited.

Diabetes Support Group

This one hour class is offered the first Monday of each month at Trident Medical Center, in Classroom A, from 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm. This class is offered free to the public. Every month a guest speaker will discuss a particular diabetes topic.  (Support Group does not meet in January, July, or September due to holidays.)

For your convenience, we have attached a copy of the diabetes education physician referral form.

Resources

American Diabetes Association – www.diabetes.org
Food Guide Pyramid – www.MyPyramind.gov
Your Diabetes For Life – www.DLife.com
Low Literacy Handouts – www.LearningAboutDiabetes.org
BD Diabetes -- http://www.bd.com/us/diabetes/
Novo Nordisk -- http://www.novonordisk.com/therapy_areas_public/therapy-area-patient.asp
Lilly -- http://www.lillydiabetes.com/
Sanofi Aventis (Lantus) -- http://www.lantus.com/
Abbott -- http://www.abbottdiabetescare.com
Bayer -- http://www.simplewins.com/
Lifescan -- http://www.lifescan.com/
Roche -- https://www.accu-chek.com/us/
Ross -- http://glucerna.com/
Novartis -- http://www.nestle-nutrition.com/Products