Diabetes Education
Living with diabetes may be challenging, but you don't have to go it alone. UnityPoint Health is committed to helping you live well with diabetes by providing coordinated care through education, coaching and support.
Importance of Diabetes Education
Diabetes Education helps people with or at risk for diabetes gain the skills and knowledge needed to change their behavior and successfully manage diabetes and its related conditions. With so much misinformation available about how to manage diabetes, it is important to partner with an expert to help you navigate the disease.
That is why our diabetes educators will team with you, your support caregiver and your provider to optimize your diabetes control while in our care. To meet your needs, Diabetes Education is provided through group classes or individual sessions.
7 Behavior Changes to Improve Quality of Life
People with diabetes or prediabetes can often improve their quality of life by changing their behavior. The American Association of Diabetes Educators points to these seven key self-care behaviors:
- Healthy eating
- Being active
- Monitoring
- Taking medication
- Problem solving
- Healthy coping
- Reducing risks
Expert Partners
Your healthcare team will help you learn what to do to live well with Diabetes. Your team members include your doctor, nurse, care coordinator, social worker, dietitian and pharmacist. Your team members may also include nurses and dietitians certified in diabetes education (CDE); these team members have experience educating people with diabetes and have passed an examination to become certified. They work with you as your teacher, coach and counselor.
Care at Home
Home care nurses work with patients to develop a plan for diabetes management that allows for a healthier and more fulfilling life. UnityPoint at Home serves as an extension of your healthcare team in your home. Home care helps patients like you:
- Coordinate care with your provider and care team
- Reach your health goals with care centered on you
- Review your medications and help you understand how to take them
- Understand how to manage your diet, medications and exercise
- Avoid hospitalizations and emergency room visits
- More easily access wound nurse experts for diabetic foot and wound issues
- Monitor and manage symptoms