Diabetes Care Center
Directions
The Madigan Diabetes Care Center is collocated with the Endocrinology/Rheumatology Clinic and is located in Madigan Army Medical Center and can be reached by taking I-5 Exit 122 and turning onto Beaumont Avenue into the Medical Mall Purple Parking Lot. The Diabetes Care Center is located on the first floor of the Medical Mall next to the Dermatology Clinic.
About
The Diabetes Care Center provides a comprehensive diabetes management program through a multidisciplinary team approach to aggressively manage diabetes. Our team of diabetes specialists’ partner with patients, primary care managers, endocrinologists, pharmacists, behavior health specialists, dietitians, and registered nurses to provide a holistic plan of care individualized to each patient. Our goal is to work closely with each individual to develop a diabetes management plan to improve upon both quality of life and health outcomes.
Services for which we are typically consulted include diabetes education, complicated diabetes medical management, insulin pump therapy and management, continuous glucose monitor studies, hypoglycemia studies, medical nutrition therapy related to diabetes, gestational diabetes education, bariatric surgery pathway (nutrition/metabolism), and others.
Education
We will help the patient develop a workable plan for controlling their diabetes, taking into consideration their lifestyle, individual learning preferences, and personal goals. Education and self-management skills are taught in a combination of group education sessions and individual sessions. The Diabetes Care Center uses the American Association of Diabetes Educators (AADE) 7 Self-care Behaviors as a model for all of our education. All education is focused on behavior change in the following 7 areas:
- Healthy Eating
- Being Active
- Monitoring
- Taking Medication
- Problem Solving
- Reducing Risks
- Healthy Coping
Group Education Classes
Essentials - A two hour introduction to diabetes and “survival skills” education. This session includes a basic introduction to diabetes, the AADE 7 Self-care behaviors, introducing the “plate method” for healthy eating, and learning to use a glucometer. This session is followed in two or three weeks by a 30-minute individual assessment with a provider to review blood glucose results and to establish an individual diabetes management plan.
Basic Nutrition - A 90 minute discussion of diabetes, diet, and exercise. The session expands on the “plate method” and includes meal composition, timing, and portion control. This class will also teach strategies for achieving and maintaining a healthy weight.
Beyond the Basics - In this 90-minute session, focus will be on portion control, reading food labels, learning about glycemic response from different types of foods, basic carbohydrate counting and strategies for eating at restaurants. Participants will set goals for self-care behaviors.
Monitoring your Health - Participants learn an appropriate monitoring scheme for their diabetes. This includes information about frequency of visits to their primary care manager, foot care, dental car, vital signs, cholesterol monitoring, immunizations, and reducing risks associated with diabetes. Patients will learn how to interpret self-monitoring of blood glucose and self-care measures during “sick days.” Patients will also learn how to overcome barriers, be proficient in problem solving, and learn about healthy coping skills.
Learning to Live with Diabetes - This session is facilitated by Madigan’s Behavioral Health service and focuses on how to effectively cope and to manage a chronic disease. Patients will learn coping skills and problem solving strategies. Patients will set goals for self-care behaviors.
Understanding Diabetes Medications - Recommended for all diabetes patients who are taking more than four different medications of any kind each day. This session is taught by a clinical pharmacist from Family Medicine. Participants will learn about medications commonly used to treat diabetes. Patients will also learn about medication management on “sick days.” Medication reconciliation is performed for each participant and will be discussed between each individual and the pharmacist at the end of the session.
Insulin Pro - This two-hour session is and interactive discussion designed to introduce patients to intensive insulin therapy and to reinforce skills for those currently using insulin-to-carbohydrate ratios and correction factors. Patients will learn advanced skills such as adjusting insulin for exercise and pattern management. There is a brief introduction to insulin pump therapy and the steps necessary to transition to an insulin pump.
Diabetes Forum - This 90-minute session is an interactive, participant led activity moderated by Diabetes Care Center staff. The purpose of this session is for patients dealing with diabetes to learn from each other and to have an opportunity to have a “check up” to see where they are in their individual diabetes management plan. We recommend attendance every six months for those who are still making adjustments in their individual plans and once per year for those who are “dialed in” and are well controlled in their diabetes management. Each session includes a five-minute “mini date” with one of our providers at the end of the group session.
Gestational Diabetes - This two-hour session is for pregnant patients who have been diagnosed with or are at risk for gestational diabetes. Participants will learn how to check their blood glucose and learn about specific blood glucose targets while pregnant. Participants will also learn about unique nutrition requirements while pregnant with diabetes. Patients are referred from OB/GYN and are monitored through their pregnancy.
Individual Appointments
Patients seen in the Diabetes Care Center are those referred from their primary care provider.
Individual appointments are available with either one of our dietitians or with one of our registered nurses for assistance with intensive insulin management, medical nutritional therapy, weight loss, insulin pump management, or for other patient-defined issues that relate to diabetes. All of our providers are Certified Diabetes Educators in addition to being licensed in their individual disciplines. Appointments are typically 60 minutes in length.