Diabetes Educational Classes  

This two-hour class is for patients newly diagnosed with pre-diabetes. Education is provided about diabetes and the management of pre-diabetes with healthy eating, weight loss and exercise. It is a self-pay class. The charge for the class is $25.   This class does not require a physician referral.

This 90-minute class is focused on answering questions to those patients who are considering insulin therapy. You’ll learn more about insulin and insulin use, a discussion on myths vs. reality of insulin therapy, and the intellectual and emotional management of diabetes. Physician referral required.

This class provides instruction on how to incorporate and sustain physical activity in one’s lifestyle. During class participants can engage in 30 minutes of low intensity group exercise (broken into segments) and establish personal physical activity goals.  Physician referral required.

This program is for people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. The program includes 10 hours of instruction. Instruction is provided in two 1-hour individual visits and four 2-hour group classes. Most insurances will provide coverage for this education subject to co-pays and deductibles.

There are 4 different options available for people with type 2 diabetes who have not yet started on insulin, have already attended the initial self-management program, and who are interested in a review of current recommendations for living well with diabetes. 

1.   Heart Healthy Living:  Patients will learn about the connection between diabetes and heart disease; and will learn how fats, sodium and fiber play a role in their diet. They will also learn how cholesterol and blood pressure can affect everyday living.  This class is taught by a dietitian educator and an exercise specialist.

2.   Weight Management: This class is for patients concerned about weight management or who have struggled with weight management in the past. The class focuses on lifestyle change and is taught by a dietitian educator and exercise specialist.

3.   Review of Living Well with Diabetes: Includes a general overview of living with diabetes and review of carbohydrate counting.  This class is taught by a dietitian educator.

This class is intended to reinforce information provided at diagnosis regarding the disease process and self-management tasks necessary to manage type 1 diabetes.  This is provided as an individual appointment.  Follow-up can be done at insulin management (pump or injection) appointments.

These individual appointments are provided to educate people with type 1, type 2, or gestational diabetes on the role of food intake in their diabetes management plan.

This is for the type 2 patient whose provider has ordered the addition of Byetta or Victoza as part of their diabetes management plan.  It is 1 session with 1 hour of individual instruction.  Education is provided about the pathophysiology of diabetes and the mechanism of action of these medication with respect to the pathophysiology.  The patient is instructed in dosage, administration technique and side effects.

This is for the type 1 or type 2 patient whose provider has ordered the addition of Symlin to their diabetes management plan.  It is 1 session (integrated with a diabetes management/insulin adjustment appointment) including up to 1 hour of instruction.  Education is provided about the pathophysiology of diabetes and the mechanism of action of these medication with respect to the pathophysiology.  The patient is instructed in dosage, administration technique and side effects.

This service is for people with type 1, type 2, or gestational diabetes who are starting on insulin therapy.  They are seen for two sessions for a total of two-fours of instruction.  They can continue to be seen for insulin dose adjustments/insulin management appointments after the initial education sessions.  Education is provided regarding the principles of insulin therapy, insulin action and patterns, administration techniques, side effects and identification and management of hypoglycemia.

These appointments are for patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes who are on insulin therapy by injection for their diabetes management.  General diabetes education is reviewed, blood glucose logs or meter download are reviewed and recommendations for adjustment of insulin therapy are made as indicated.

This program is for people whose providers have prescribed a three day diagnostic iPro sensor wear to better determine blood glucose trends to assist with diabetes management decisions.  The program consists of two sessions, each of which is 1 hour of instruction.  The device is placed at the first visit and the device download is reviewed by the educator and discussed with the patient at the second visit with recommendations made for changes in diabetes management as indicated  (if ordered by the provider).

This is a two hour class that is intended for people interested in exploring the option of insulin pump therapy for diabetes management.  The class provides information about the general principles of insulin pump therapy and a review of the features of current insulin pump systems.

This program is for people with type 1, type 2, or gestational diabetes who have already attended the pre-pump class and have obtained their insulin pump.  It includes attendance at the Pump 101 class and three individual visits to teach the mechanics of pump therapy, with additional visits to provide additional education and make insulin dose adjustments as appropriate.  For children, all instruction is done individually.  The visits include up to twenty hours instruction dependent on patient age and specific learning needs.  Patients can continue to be seen on an ongoing basis for insulin dose adjustment and insulin pump therapy management.

These appointments are for patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes who are using insulin delivered by an insulin pump for their diabetes management.  General diabetes and pump education is reviewed.  Pump download date is reviewed and recommendations for adjustment of insulin therapy are made as indicated.  Group class is also available to review advanced pumping concepts.

This is a one hour class that is intended for people interested in exploring the option of real-time continuous  monitoring to assist with their diabetes management.  The class provides information about the general principles of real-time sensor technology and a review of the features of current RT-CGM systems.

This program is for people who have purchased an RT-CGMS and need instruction in sensor insertion and the use of an RT-CGMS.  It  is 1 session with one hour of instruction to instruct the person on the use of the RT-CGMS they have purchased.  If ordered by the physician, these patients can receive continued follow up for pump management or insulin management visits.  It they are seen for insulin dose adjustment/insulin management, the RT-CGMS data will be downloaded and reviewed as part of the assessment prior to making insulin dose adjustment recommendations.

This program is for women who were diagnosed with type 1 or type 2 diabetes and become pregnant, or women who are diagnosed with gestational diabetes.  The program includes two sessions including up to four hours of instruction, followed by monthly or weekly sessions 15 minutes in length until delivery (more sessions are required if insulin is ordered).  Joslin Diabetes Center staff will not provide protocol-based independent insulin dose management for pregnant women.  All dose adjustment will require a provider order.  For women with type 1 or type 2 diabetes who are planning to become pregnant, the Joslin Diabetes Center also offers preconception education.

This two-hour class is for people who will be babysitting for children with diabetes on either injection therapy or pump therapy.  It is a self-pay class and the charge is $25 per family.  The class includes both didactic information and hands-on practice of skills used in the care of a child with diabetes.