When you have diabetes, taking care of yourself can seem overwhelming. Whether you have been newly diagnosed or had it for a long time, educating yourself is critical to managing diabetes. Rush Memorial Hospital offers classes to give you the tools and support you need to manage all aspects of your diabetes.
Free Diabetes Self-Management Education
Referral Required
Diabetes can be challenging to manage when you do not fully understand it. Rush Memorial Hospital’s Diabetes Self-Management Education course offers the tools and education you need to control your diabetes instead of letting it control you.
The DSME course is free and led by Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialists (CDCES) who are available to help patients set goals and manage their diabetes with a specific plan. The course participants will meet over a three-week span, with one meeting each week. A referral from your primary care provider is required.
What is Diabetes Self-Management Education?
Diabetes self-management education is working with a diabetes educator on things that matter to you, such as:
Understanding how your medication works
Blood Glucose Monitoring
How to plan meals to improve blood glucose control
Making lifestyle changes such as staying active to improve health
Eating healthy
Managing stress effectively and healthy coping
Increasing your sense of control and well-being
Insulin injection education
Diabetic emergency preparedness
One-on-One
The Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialists can provide individual education sessions for those not able to attend the group DSME course sessions. These sessions are tailored to meet the individual’s health-related goals.
Free Diabetes Prevention Program
The Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) is led by Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialists (CDCES) who work with prediabetic individuals to make positive changes and maintain a healthy lifestyle. This is a FREE 12-month program that meets for one hour on a weekly basis.
The overall goals for participants of this program are:
Lose 5-7% of their weight
Add activity to their schedule at a minimum of 150 minutes per week
Eat a balanced diet
What are the requirements for the program?
To be eligible to participate in the DPP a person must be age 18 or older, have a body mass index of 25 or higher, not have a previous diagnosis of type 1 or type 2 diabetes, and not be pregnant. One requirement below must also be met to participate:
Diagnosed with prediabetes
Previously diagnosed with gestational diabetes
High-risk result on prediabetes risk test
For more information or to register for a class please contact:
