St. John's Mercy Hospital Offers Comprehensive Diabetes Education Program

According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), approximately 17 million people in the United States, or 6.2 percent of the population, have diabetes. While an estimated 11.1 million have been diagnosed, 5.9 million people - or one-third of the U.S. population - are unaware that they have the disease. St. John's Mercy Hospital is committed to diabetes education in the community. To enhance diabetes management, the hospital offers a comprehensive, ADA-recognized Diabetes Education program on both an inpatient and outpatient basis.

Inpatient Diabetes Education Program
As part of the Inpatient Diabetes Education Program at St. John's Mercy, a diabetes nurse educator will assess all inpatient diabetics to determine their needs and establish priorities for appropriate inpatient and outpatient education.

Outpatient Diabetes Education Program
St. John's Mercy believes that the outpatient setting may be a more conducive atmosphere for learning. Therefore, to close the loop in diabetes education and awareness, St. John's Mercy Hospital offers an Outpatient Diabetes Education Program for diabetics recently discharged from the hospital or any diabetic in need of additional diabetes self-management skills. The Outpatient Diabetes Education Program offers two formats for learning, based on the needs and preferences of the patient:

• Individualized, one-on-one meetings with an outpatient diabetes educator and registered dietitian
• Group meetings with an outpatient diabetes educator, registered dietitian and pharmacist

In both educational formats, topics covered include:

• An overview of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes
• Nutritional counseling
• Foot care
• Glucose monitoring
• Exercise
• Stress management
• Prevention of complications

Upon your initial outpatient visit, the outpatient diabetes educator will determine how much follow-up is right for you.

Medicare and many insurance plans cover the Outpatient Diabetes Education Program at St. John's Mercy Hospital. For more information, call the St. John's Mercy Hospital Outpatient Nutrition and Diabetes Wellness Center at 636-239-8371.

Outpatient Diabetes Education Program - Group Meetings
Outpatient Diabetes Education Program group meetings at St. John's Mercy Hospital are offered as eight-hour, one-day sessions.

Facilitated by a diabetes nurse educator, a registered dietitian and a pharmacist from St. John's Mercy, the class enables participants to take part in a hands-on learning experience, implementing the tools they acquire in class throughout the course of the day.

Participants have the opportunity to make lunch selections and test glucose levels following the meal. There is also be a "Glucometer Exchange," providing participants the opportunity to trade glucometers for newer models. Assistance is provided to participants requiring a first-time glucometer purchase.

For more information on the St. John’s Mercy Hospital Outpatient Diabetes Education Program, including group meeting times and dates, call 636-239-8371. Medicare and many insurance plans cover this program.

© 2008 St. John's Mercy Health Care
615 S. New Ballas Rd., St. Louis, Missouri, 63141