Welch Diabetes Center

The mission of the Welch Diabetes Center is to provide education, resources, and support to patients who have diabetes. Our staff also strives to empower them with the necessary skills to manage their disease and reduce the risk of complications.

Founded in 1992, the Welch Diabetes Center has tools and workshops to help patients of all ages and at all stages of diabetes:

Workshops and Services at the Welch Diabetes Center:

Nutrition, medication management, lifestyle and exercise are components of all counseling sessions and workshops.

Adult Workshop open to adults with diabetes who require a total diabetes management program. The seven-hour workshop is offered twice each month. Call 812-885-8010.

Pediatric Workshop for children and teenagers who have been newly diagnosed. Age-appropriate instruction on the basic principles of diabetes management is provided. Family members and caregivers are encouraged to attend. Workshops are offered once a month. Call 812-885-8010.

Individual Counseling designed for people with diabetes who would prefer a private session. A nurse and dietitian provide four hours of consultation. Call 812-885-8010.

Insulin Regulation nurses are available to teach patients who are starting on insulin about insulin, dosages, and how to administer injections. Call 812-885-8010.

Diabetes and Pregnancy education and monitoring are provided for women who develop Gestational Diabetes and for diabetic women who become pregnant. Call 812-885-8010.

Follow-up Education/Supportive Care administered by the Welch Center, provides continuing education and supportive care for patients who have attended the Center's workshop, individual counseling or had insulin training. Patients are seen at one month, six months, and one year after the initial education. Call 812-885-8010.

Support Group open to any individual with diabetes and their family members. Staff answers questions, discusses new developments in diabetes and encourages an exchange of ideas, information and support. This Support Group meets the first Monday of the month from 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. in the classroom at 615 Dubois. Call 812-885-8010.

Pre-Pump Assessment patients who want to go on an insulin pump are assessed as to their ability to properly calculate dosages by a nurse and dietitian. This assessment is for those who have taken Dr. Jane Bridges' advanced management class at Good Samaritan Hospital. Call 812-885-8010.

Diabetes: The Basics

As diabetes becomes more widespread in America, the need to understand it grows. (Are you at risk?) Diabetes contributes to heart disease, stroke, kidney diseases and more. Once diagnosed, Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes will be part of a patient's life forever. Knowledge is the key to successfully coping with the disease.

Diabetes is a chronic condition in which the body's ability to metabolize glucose is impaired or lost. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which cells in the pancreas that make insulin are destroyed. People with Type 1 diabetes must take insulin.

Type 2 diabetes is when the body cannot produce enough insulin, or the insulin is defective. Some people can control Type 2 diabetes with diet and exercise; others may need insulin.

Gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy when the mother's body is unable to handle the increased insulin demands. Gestational diabetes ends when the baby is born, but places women who have had it at higher risk for diabetes later in life.

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