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

According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), approximately 24 million people in the United States have diabetes. There has been an increase of three million in the last two years.  Three people are diagnosed every minute.  An estimated 25 percent have the disease and don't know it.   And there are 57 million Americans who have prediabetes.   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 and registered dietitian.

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 636-239-8248.

Outpatient Diabetes Education Program - Group Meetings
Outpatient Diabetes Education Program group meetings at St. John's Mercy Hospital are offered in four two-hour sessions.

Facilitated by a Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE) from St. John's Mercy, the class enables participants to take part in a hands-on learning experience, implementing the tools they acquire in the classes.

Participants have the opportunity to make lunch selections and test glucose levels following the meal. There is also 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 Diabetes Education Program, call the Nutrition and Diabetes Wellness Center at 636-239-8248. Medicare and many insurance plans cover this program.

Diabetes Education Series
Free education classes are offered during the year on various topics. Information is provided by professional experts in the field. These classes are usually conducted in the Education Department in the Mercy Medical Building. In addition, a Diabetes Expo is presented in the fall each year.  Along with a guest speaker, there are representatives from different companies offering a wide variety of information.  For more information, including the dates and times, please call the Nutrition and Diabetes Wellness Center at 636-239-8248.

Diabetes Support Group
Free support group for those with diabetes and their families are held monthly.  Focus topics vary each month.  Programs are designed to help those with diabetes stay well and in control.  No registration is necessary.  For more information or questions, please call the Nutrition and Diabetes Wellness Center at 636-239-8248.