Diabetes Center of Excellence
Education is key. The Heywood Hospital Diabetes Self-Management Program meets the national standards for certification from the American Diabetes Association and by the Association of Certified Diabetic Educators.
- Our Medical Nutrition Therapy is instructed by Registered Dietitians.
- Our staff will work with your primary care physician directly whether they are affiliated with our hospital or not.
- We partner with the UMass Memorial Health Care Diabetes Center of Excellence, whose physicians care for patients at Heywood. When possible, UMass Memorial physicians refer to specialists in our local community or at UMass Memorial Medical Center.
- Our smaller educational classes and/or our one-on-one instruction promote strong relationships and better support for your individual needs.
A physician referral is needed. There is a program fee to participate, however most health insurance plans cover the cost of our diabetes programs with the exception of your standard health insurance co-payment. We offer financial counseling for anyone interested in participating.
Diabetic counseling programs at Heywood are medically supervised and intended for diabetics of all ages. Our programs offer a chance for you to control your life with the help of:
• Nutritional counseling
• One-on-One counseling
• Educational classes
Participating in Heywood’s Diabetes programs may help you:
• Reduce your risk of diabetes complications
• Reduce blood glucose levels
• Reduce blood pressure levels
• Reduce blood cholesterol levels
• Reduce the risk of complications involving eyes, feet and kidneys
Learning that you have a chronic disease such as diabetes can be overwhelming. Life after diagnosis can be a new beginning, a second chance to rebuild your life and health for the better!
Diabetes Self Management Education
Diabetes Self Management Education program, (DSME), helps you optimize your diabetic care and promote lifestyle changes that improve your own diabetes management. DSME is generally for persons diagnosed with Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes.
Heywood’s DSME program will teach you all the skills necessary to keep the statistics on your side, including:
• The basics of eating
• Planning meals
• Shopping/label reading
• Physical activity/exercise
• Oral medications & Insulin management
• Monitoring blood glucose
• Stress and coping
• Personal health habits
• Long-term complications
• Changing behavior
DSME consists of 1 initial assessment session and 4 group classes. All critical aspects of diabetes care and treatment are covered in the group classes.
Medical Nutrition Therapy
Medical Nutrition Therapy, (MNT), allows individualized nutrition education by registered dietitians. MNT is a process of managing nutrition-related chronic disease through nutrition counseling. Medical Nutrition Therapy can help you if you have Type 1, Type 2 or Gestational Diabetes.
Depending on your needs, Heywood’s Medical Nutrition Therapy will teach you how to:
• Improve health and quality of life through better food choices
• Treat and manage diseases including:
diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, obesity
• Decrease the need for prescription drugs
• Reduce diabetic complications that result in hospitalization
• Reduce or eliminate the need for insulin in Type 2 Diabetes
For more information, contact:
Doug Miller, R.N., CDE, Clinical Coordinator Diabetes Education at 978-630-5719.
