Diabetes care
Diabetes is a condition caused when your body is unable to produce enough, or any, insulin, which causes elevated levels of glucose in the blood. If left untreated, it can cause very serious complications, including heart disease, and kidney, eye and nerve damage.
Diabetes can come in several forms, but with the right help you can easily learn how to live with, and manage, your diabetes diagnosis. Our physicians and diabetes education team will work with you to create a care plan that is right for you.
Types of diabetes
There are two main types:
- Type I (also called juvenile diabetes) – Develops in children and young adults. In Type I, the body does not produce enough or any insulin.
- Type II (also called adult-onset diabetes) – This is the most common form, affecting roughly 16 million Americans. In Type II, the body cannot produce enough insulin, or the insulin produced is ignored by the body.
Is there a cure?
Good control should be your goal. There is no cure for this disease, but it can be regulated through medication, lifestyle changes and a personalized treatment plan developed with your provider. Proper management can help you live a long, healthy life without suffering further complications related to diabetes.
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Diabetes education program
Because blood glucose changes constantly, managing it can be a complicated matter. The food choices you make, how much you eat, timing meals, medication, your emotions, an illness, your weight, and your body’s resistance to insulin all play a role in your blood glucose reading.
To achieve consistent blood glucose control, working with your provider and a diabetes education team is a good step to take toward gaining confidence in your lifestyle decisions. Beacon’s diabetes education program is designed to help you and your family learn about changes that occur in your body and shows you ways to minimize potential diabetes complications.
Certified Registered Dietitians, Education Specialists, and other health care professionals trained in diabetes management lead weekly classes and offer steps for you to improve your health. During classes you will learn about:
- Healthy eating
- Being active
- Blood glucose monitoring
- Taking medication
- Problem solving
- Healthy coping
- Reducing risk of developing complications
The better informed you and your family are, the better you can control diabetes, rather than being controlled by diabetes.
About classes
Ask your provider for a referral to the Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) program led by a Registered Dietitian. You will be assessed and scheduled for classes. As you progress through the program, a Registered Dietitian works with your primary care provider and provides information on your progress.
- Convenient class times available.
- Classes meet once a week for five weeks.
Payment
The Diabetes Education Program is covered by Medicare and many insurance plans. Check with your insurance company to determine coverage. If you do not have insurance, please call Beacon Health System Financial Counseling at (574) 647-3633 for assistance.
Office hours
Elkhart General Hospital
600 East Blvd.
Elkhart, IN 46514
(574) 294-2621
Monday – Friday 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
(574) 523-3103
Our team
Anouk Shelton, MBA, RD, LD
Diabetes Educator
Kate Glick, RD, LD
Diabetes Educator
Kelsey Mueller, RD, LD
Bilingual Diabetes Educator (Spanish)
Cat Ludwig, RD, LD
Care Coordinator
(574) 296-6555