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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