Doctors Community Hospital - Passion for Caring

All programs meet in the Joslin Diabetes Center on the 5th floor of the Medical Office Building at Doctors Community Hospital.  We also offer individual appointments. Nutrition counseling appointments are available in Spanish. A description of our programs and support group follows:

Diabetes Today

This 8 ½-hour program provides a complete overview of how to effectively manage your diabetes.  It is offered through two half-day interactive sessions followed by an individual follow-up appointment. This program is geared to the participant who has been diagnosed with diabetes within the last 6 months, or has never met with a diabetes educator. Participants will learn basic diabetes self-management skills for medication, nutrition, meal planning, physical activity, and blood glucose monitoring. Diabetes Today is offered on Mondays and Tuesdays from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. 

REQUIREMENTS:

• Diagnosed with diabetes;
• Obtain a signed referral form from your physician, prior to registration;
• For pre-registration, please call 301-552-8661.

INSTRUCTORS:

Diabetes Update

This ninety minute class will provide participants with an annual update on the latest information about nutrition, diabetes treatments, and research. This class will also help participants manage new challenges, set new goals, and develop an individual action plan. Call to find out when the next Diabetes Update program is offered.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Adults with diabetes who have attended a basic diabetes education class in the previous calendar year or earlier;
• Pre-registration; please call 301-552-8661 to pre-register.

INSTRUCTORS:

Steps to Success

This comprehensive, 10-hour course is offered through five interactive sessions. Each session meets for two hours each week. Participants will learn about diet, exercise, complication prevention, interpreting glucose levels, and gain a greater understanding of diabetes. These five sessions are offered on Tuesday evenings from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Call for additional meeting times. 

REQUIREMENTS:

• Diagnosed with diabetes and have need for intensive diabetes self-management education;
• Complete a pre-program assessment process prior to starting class;
• Pre-registration prior to starting class;
• For pre-registration, please call 301-552-8661.

INSTRUCTORS:

Diabetes Circle - A Support Group

Our support group meets on the third Monday of each month in the Joslin Diabetes Center Conference Room. The Conference Room is on the 5th floor of the Medical Office Building at Doctors Community Hospital. Participants may share their experiences and how they and their family members cope with diabetes. Discussions will vary and include specialty topics and lots of encouragement! There is no cost for this program.

REQUIREMENTS: 

• None.  Call 301-552-8661 if you have questions.

FACILITATORS:

Carb Counting

This ninety minute class will provide participants with advanced carbohydrate counting skills. This class will also help participants manage new challenges, set new goals, and develop an individual action plan. Call to find out when the next Carb Counting class is offered.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Adults with diabetes who have attended a basic diabetes education class in the previous calendar year or earlier;
• Pre-registration; please call 301-552-8661 to pre-register.

INSTRUCTOR:

Insulin to Carb Ratio

This ninety minute class will provide participants with the opportunity to learn how to benefit from better blood sugar control while taking insulin. Learn how to match the amount of insulin you take to the amount of carbohydrate you eat. This class will also help participants manage new challenges, set new goals, and develop an individual action plan. Call to find out when the next Insulin to Carb Ration program is offered.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Adults with diabetes who have attended a basic diabetes education class in the previous calendar year or earlier;
• Pre-registration; please call 301-552-8661 to pre-register.

INSTRUCTOR:

Fit and Healthy, a Nutrition & Exercise Class

Our Fit & Healthy program is a structured exercise and weight loss program that is offered to those with or without diabetes (diabetes management is included if applicable). This is a 10-week participatory program offered for 2 hours each session. Each week participants weigh-in, join an exercise session and discuss a topic of the day. Topics include: how to stay motivated, how to follow a weight loss meal plan, goal setting, healthy cooking and recipe modification, dining out, portion control, mindful eating, the role activity plays in weight loss, and how to avoid pitfalls.  All participants will receive a meal plan. During the exercise portion of this program, participants may use treadmills, stationary bikes, and/or free weights. This class begins in the Joslin Diabetes Center.  Call to schedule your pre-program assessment today!

REQUIREMENTS:

• Obtain a signed medical consent from your physician within 2 months prior to the start of the class;
• Obtain a recent fasting cholesterol/lipid profile;
• Obtain a recent HbAlC (for those with diabetes);
• Complete a pre-program assessment and pre-register by calling 301-552-8661.

INSTRUCTOR:

Fundamentals of Insulin Pump Therapy/Continuous Glucose Monitoring System

This course provides information to individuals with diabetes about the advantages, disadvantages, and expectations regarding insulin pump therapy and continuous glucose monitoring systems.  In depth information and instructions are given to those individuals that choose to utilize the insulin pump or continuous glucose monitoring system as an adjunct to their diabetes care. Participants will have an opportunity to learn about various pumps on the market.  Call for meeting times.

REQUIREMENTS: 

• Diagnosed with diabetes; 
• Obtain a signed referral form from your physician prior to registration;
• For pre-registration, please call 301-552-8661.

INSTRUCTOR:

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Insulin Pump Therapy Orientation

The Orientation is an opportunity to explore your interest in the insulin pump and help you decide how an insulin pump may fit into your diabetes health care plan.  Call for meeting times.  There is no cost for this program.

REQUIREMENTS: 

• Diagnosed with diabetes; 
• For registration, please call 301-552-8661.

INSTRUCTORS: