We CAN help you take control and live with diabetes.

Diabetes Education

When you or someone you care about has been diagnosis with diabetes it can be an overwhelming. There is a lot of information to learn about the disease and changes to your lifestyle. Maria Parham’s outpatient adult Diabetes Education Program is aimed at guiding adult community members with type 1 and type 2 diabetes live healthier and productive lifestyles. Our program is certified by the American Diabetes association has helped hundreds of Vance country and area residents living with diabetes.  The program taught by masters prepared staff with additional certification in diabetes education.

How our Diabetes Education Program works:

Following your physician referral, the program begins with an individual visit with our Registered Dietitian. A Register Dietitian is a key member of your diabetes care team. These nutrition experts can guide you on a path to a nutritious diabetes diet, create a personalize meal plan, teach you to read food labels, and help you monitor your blood sugar levels. Our Register Dietitian will complete a personalize assessment to determine your educational needs and develop a custom meal plan during your initial visit.

After your meeting with the Register Dietician, you will be scheduled for 2 group classes which will cover the following topics:

• General facts of diabetes
• Nutrition
• High and low blood sugars
• Diabetes resources
• Exercise
• Medication
• Complications of diabetes
• Goal setting and problem solving
• Behavior change

WE CAN help you have a healthy pregnancy.

Gestational Diabetes and Pregnancy Education Programs

Gestational diabetes occurs when your blood sugar level is elevated during pregnancy. This condition usually affects women between the 24th to 28th weeks of pregnancy. How you treat this condition is important to the health of you and your baby. At Maria Parham, we offer a gestational diabetes education program as well as a program to help women with type 1 and 2 diabetes when they become pregnant.

How our Diabetes Pregency Education Program Works:

This program is taught individually in 1 session. You will meet with our staff for an educational assessment. Our Registered Dietitian will provide nutrition counseling and develop a healthy meal plan. You then meet with a registered nurse for more information to gain a better understand of your condition. They will review critical information of gestational diabetes or diabetes pregnancy including:  

• General facts of diabetes
• Nutrition
• High and low blood sugars
• Diabetes resources
• Exercise
• Medication
• Complications of diabetes
• Goal setting and problem solving
• Behavior change