You can live an active, healthy life with diabetes. We’re here to help.
Jefferson Community Health & Life offers diabetes education to help people better understand diabetes, improve glucose control, and reduce the risk of diabetes complications.
Our Diabetes Self-Management Education program is recognized by the American Diabetes Association, which means it meets national standards for diabetes education and provides dedicated, qualified staff to support you in managing your condition.
Our education team helps you understand:
- How glucose levels and blood sugar levels work and why consistent glucose monitoring matters
- How to use blood glucose monitoring tools for blood sugar monitoring at home
- How to recognize and respond to low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
- What A1C testing measures and what targets may be recommended
- How smart nutrition can make managing your diabetes easier.
- Lifestyle habits that support diabetes prevention, including guidance on how to prevent diabetes when you’re at risk
- Technology options, when appropriate, including continuous glucose monitoring
How diabetes education can help
Diabetes self-management education can help you:
- Make informed choices to prevent or delay diabetes complications
- Build skills for coping with the demands of living with diabetes
- Identify problem areas and learn strategies to overcome them
- Recognize barriers that make it hard to manage blood sugar levels
- Use smart nutrition to make diabetes management easier
- Learn how to count carbohydrate grams and plan meals confidently
Diabetes self-management education may be recommended:
- If you are newly diagnosed with diabetes (including type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes)
- If you have poor blood sugar control or inconsistent glucose levels
- When an A1C test is greater than 7%
- If you have had diabetes complications that required hospital or emergency room treatment
Diabetes risk, testing, and prevention
Are you at risk for diabetes? A simple risk test can help you determine your next steps. Common screening may include blood work such as fasting glucose or an A1C test—and your provider can help interpret results and determine whether you may have prediabetes or diabetes.
Diabetes and pregnancy
Our team can also provide education support for gestational diabetes and diabetes pregnancy concerns. We can help you understand risk factors, blood sugar goals, and monitoring strategies during pregnancy to support both mother and baby.
Classes and scheduling
Jefferson Community Health & Life offers individual diabetes education classes. If you are interested in education and would like to schedule an appointment, please call 402-729-6846 ext. 4163.
Instructors
- Lisa Edeal, RDN, LMNT
- Deb Sutton, RN, BS, NHA
Diabetes Self-Management Education is a service covered by Medicare and many private insurance companies. A physician referral is required.