The American Diabetes Association recognizes Methodist Hospital Diabetes Center for providing outstanding programs that provide education and support to people who want to learn how to prevent and manage diabetes.
“We provide education based on the American Diabetes Association; that's where our education comes from,” says diabetes educator Valerie Alger, RN, BSN. “We provide education about the disease process, management, and the types: type 1, type 2, gestational diabetes, prediabetes, etc. We provide tools for healthy behaviors and talk about a whole range of topics: diet, monitoring, management, risk management, problem solving, coping, exercise, etc.”
Diabetes Self-Management Education (DSME) classes are covered by Medicare and Medicaid and can be covered by additional insurance companies if prescribed by a doctor. Regardless of insurance coverage, DSME classes are open to the community, and Alger and the Diabetes Center staff are eager to welcome community members and teach them more about diabetes.
To learn more about diabetes, attend classes at the Diabetes Center. Classes cover topics such as prevention and nutrition. These classes cover healthy coping strategies, eating habits, exercise, self-management, medication options, risk avoidance, problem-solving skills, and more. To learn more about diet and develop a customized meal plan, a registered dietitian is available for individual nutrition counseling.
Those who would like to participate in classes but are unable to attend in person can connect with Diabetes Center staff through the virtual Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP). Through the DPP, participants learn how to reduce their risk of diabetes in monthly one-hour seminar sessions via Zoom.
If you don't know where to start and would like a basic overview of diabetes, you can attend our quarterly follow-up sessions.
“We have group sessions that are similar to a support group. Anyone can join. You don't have to have attended before. We discuss all things diabetes related, so it's not just about medication. We share a general overview of exercise and lifestyle changes that can help control blood sugar levels,” Alger said.
Alger encourages anyone with prediabetes or in the diabetes journey to take advantage of all the community resources both in and outside of the Diabetes Center and to keep an eye out for special events: Once a week, the Diabetes Center partners with Purdue University to host free diabetes-friendly cooking classes at both its Northlake campus in Gary and its Southlake campus in Merrillville.
Diabetes Center staff will connect community members to all diabetes resources and answer any diabetes-related questions over the phone at 219-886-4444 (Northlake campus) and 219-738-5802 (Southlake campus).
“We're passionate about providing the best possible care,” Alger said, “and we want to provide the best care to everyone who comes through our facility and see everyone live a healthy life. Whatever they can manage, we want to give them the resources they can use to manage it. We are essentially caregivers.”
To learn more about the Methodist Hospital Diabetes Center, contact us for a free Online Diabetes Risk Assessment,the Website.