Classes, Programs, and Events
Diabetes self-management education is an important part of a treatment plan for those with diabetes. Education helps patients become pro-active in managing their disease. At Joslin Diabetes Center affiliate at Southern New Hampshire Medical Center, patients learn how to incorporate meal planning, physical activity and medication, and prevention of complications into their individual lifestyle.
Many of the diabetes self-management classes require an order or referral from your primary care provider. Medicare, as well as most insurance plans, cover diabetes self-management education, but it is important to check your individual policy.
To register for classes call the Joslin Diabetes Center affiliate at (603)577-5760.
Classes
Reducing Your Risk For Diabetes
Are you at risk for developing diabetes, do you have pre-diabetes or a glucose intolerance? In this class, you will learn from registered dieticians how to reduce your risk factors, the elements of meal planning and the amount of exercise you should build into your weekly routine. The class will be held regularly every other month.First Class: Tuesday, November 4, 2008 9:00 – 11:00 am
Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby
Where: Joslin Diabetes Center Affiliate at Southern New Hampshire Medical Center 29 Northwest Boulevard, Nashua, NH
To help women with gestational diabetes take healthy action to ensure the best outcome for their babies. Taught by certified diabetes educators, including nurses and dietitians. Follow-up on an individual basis.
Heart Healthy Eating for Patients With Diabetes
This class is designed for patients with diabetes who want to learn how to improve their lipid levels and other cardiovascular risk factors through better food choices and physical activity. Participants in the class will learn about healthy and unhealthy dietary fats and develop a heart healthy meal plan. Target goals for both lipids and blood pressure will be discussed as well the benefits of medications to reduce the risk for heart disease. This class is taught by the RD, CDE.
Diabetes Today
This class is designed for patients with newly diagnosed diabetes or those who would like a refresher course. It is a series of three, two hour classes that build on the previous class.<
- Class 1 – Taught by an RN – On the Road to Better Managing Your Diabetes covers many of the basic concepts about diabetes and self-management: what is diabetes, monitoring blood glucose, introduction to meal planning, symptoms of high and low blood glucose.
- Class 2 – Taught by an RD – Diabetes and Healthy Eating is a more detailed discussion about the connection between food and diabetes and the importance of healthy eating as it relates to managing diabetes.
- Class 3 – Taught by an RN – Continuing Your Journey with Diabetes covers more complex concepts related to diabetes including the natural course of diabetes, medication options, what insulin is and how it works, long term complications of diabetes, reducing the risk for complications, and knowing your ABCs (A1c, blood pressure and cholesterol target).
Insulin Pump Program
At Joslin, we believe that starting patients on insulin pumps requires careful screening and training. Our pump program starts with an individual appointment with the RN, CDE to review basic diabetes management skills and begin discussion on the various pump options that are available. Based upon this appointment, a referral may be made to the RD, CDE to discuss carbohydrate counting if needed. Once the decision is made to start insulin pump therapy and the pump is received, several individual appointments are made with the RN, CDE to learn how to use the pump, initiate insulin therapy via the pump, and learn advanced pump features. In addition, once insulin is started via the pump,there is frequent contact between the patient and the educator for ongoing adjustments to achieve blood glucose control.
Support Groups
Diabetes Support Group (FREE) For adults with diabetes. Meets the 3rd Tuesday of each month (no meetings during July and August) from 7:00 - 9:00 pm at SNHMC Main Campus, 3 Central. Open to all. No registration necessary. (No meetings in July and August.)
Diabetes Insulin Pump User Support Group (FREE)
For adults interested in or using insulin pumps. Monthly speakers will answer questions and discuss glucose monitoring, dietary issues, medication options for pump users, traveling with a pump and how and why to use Combo boluses.
3rd Thursday of each month (No meetings in July and August)
6:00 pm-7:00 pm
Joslin Diabetes Center affiliate at Southern New Hampshire Medical Center