Group Education Classes

We provide group education classes to help people manage their diabetes. American Diabetes Association-course approved, the group session runs for four weeks. Each session lasts for two hours from 10 a.m. until noon. The series includes basic information on nutrition, exercise, medications, blood sugar monitoring, preventing complication, psychological adjustment to diabetes and how to change behavior.

The sessions are structured as follows:

Week One	Diabetes Overview Nutrition
Week Two	Self-Management Skills Monitoring Blood Sugars and Use of Results (bring meter and strips) Exercise and Activity Medications, Balance of Nutrition, Exercise, medication and Glucose Levels
Week Three	Self-Management Skills Foot, Skin, Eye and Dental Care Low Blood Sugar and High Blood Sugar Management Sick Day Guidelines Prevention of Long-Term Complications
Week Four	Stress and Coping with Diabetes Psychological Adjustment and Role of Family Community Resources Behavior Change Goal Setting

Group classes are held once a week at the Strelitz Diabetes Center, 855 W. Brambleton Avenue in Norfolk. Group size is limited to six members. All classes are taught by Certified Diabetes Educators. Pre-registration is required. To register, call Eileen Althouse, RN, MSN, CDE, Education Program Coordinator, at (757) 446-8477.

Medicare will cover 80 percent of the cost of the group session with a doctor's referral. Trigon Blue Cross/Blue Shield (not Federal Plan) also provides coverage. The insurance carriers are billed for the participant. Under new federal legislation, other insurance carriers may provide coverage - please check with your insurance carrier.

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