Diabetes/Welch Diabetic Education
Knox County Diabetes Management Programs
The mission of the Welch Diabetes Education Center at Good Samaritan is
to provide quality comprehensive diabetes self-management education. The
center believes that education is key to empowering the person with diabetes
to better manage the condition, avoid complications and achieve an optimum
health status.
Diabetes educators collaborate with physicians to help empower patients
to modify their lifestyle and adopt healthy self-care behaviors.
Diabetes education may include but is not limited to dietitian and nurse
consultation and follow-up education/supportive care.
Programs Offered
- Adult Workshop
- Individual Counseling
- Insulin Instruction
- Existing Diabetes with Pregnancy and Gestational Diabetes
- Follow-up Education/Supportive Care
- Free Diabetes Prevention Workshops (pre-diabetes)
Follow-Up
Education/Supportive Care
Continued education and supportive care is provided for any patient who
has attended a workshop, individual counseling, or insulin training.
Patients are seen for initial consultation, four week follow-up, and then
as needed per patient request/educator recommendation.
Nurse Consultation
At consultations, a nurse will...
- Present basic information about diabetes and its management.
- Train patients and caregivers to use diabetes devices, such as blood glucose
meters and insulin pens.
- Teach the patient starting on insulin about the medication and how to give
the injection.
- Teach patients problem solving strategies and skills to self-manage their diabetes.
- Based on individual needs blood sugars may be followed from initial education
to the four week follow-up. Communicates those blood sugar readings to
their physician in order to help the patient receive medication adjustments.
At the four week follow-up, the patient is encouraged to continue communicating
blood sugar readings to their doctor as directed by the diabetes educator.
-
Educate patients on techniques for risk reduction of acute complications:
- Hypoglycemia
- Hyperglycemia
- Sick day management
-
Educate patients on techniques for preventing chronic complications:
- Eye Disease
- Kidney Disease
- Nerve Damage
- Dental Disease
- Heart Disease
- Help patients develop emotional coping skills.
Hours
Monday – Thursday 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Phone:
812-885-8010
Fax:
812-885-8754