The Lennon Diabetes Center at Cleveland Clinic Stephanie Tubbs Jones Health Center offers an outpatient diabetes education program that can help you live a healthier, happier life. The program is designed to educate and teach effective self-management skills that put the patient in control.

Diabetes Education

Cleveland Clinic Stephanie Tubbs Jones Health Center is dedicated to giving quality diabetes education. Our unique, internationally recognized group classes are held on a monthly basis and offer education in all aspects of diabetes management.

Insurance

Diabetes education may be reimbursable when your attendance is by physician referral. Your individual insurance policy defines the extent of your coverage. If you have any questions regarding insurance coverage, call the diabetes education center at 216.767.4242.

Who Can Benefit From Diabetes Education?

All persons with diabetes benefit from diabetes education to learn self-management skills to control their diabetes and optimize their ability to live a productive and satisfying life. Through education and counseling, you and your family will learn practical information about your health. Some of the topics covered include diet, medications and monitoring. During the classes, you will learn about healthy lifestyle changes, healthy nutrition, blood glucose monitoring and interpretation, medications for diabetes and problem solving.

Diabetes Support Groups

Support groups form a bridge between formal healthcare and self-management. The diabetes support group gives insights on new ideas and effective forms of coping with the disease. Meetings address a variety of topics, which are frequently suggested by the group, past speakers discussed medical issues or new diabetes products that are of interest to the group. Aspects of diabetes self-management are also discussed.

Accepting information and advice from others dealing with diabetes may be easier than accepting the same advice from a healthcare professional. The common bond among members makes expressing and dealing with emotions possible. Studies have shown that attending a diabetes support group can reduce stress, improve family functioning and have a positive effect on blood sugar control.

Diabetes Team

Your diabetes healthcare team consists of your physician, nurse educator, dietitian, and yourself. We believe that together this team can provide the ongoing support needed to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

The diabetes educators at Cleveland Clinic Stephanie Tubbs Jones Health Center are committed to the concept of quality patient education. Our goal is to assist you in gaining confidence as you embark on this lifelong journey of healthcare.

Through the diabetes self-management program, you will learn how to:

  • Make healthy food choices.
  • Keep blood sugar in check.
  • Incorporate exercise into your life.
  • Care for personal needs.
  • Make smart decisions about medication.

Who Can Get Diabetes?

Anyone can get diabetes. However, there are certain factors that can make you more at risk for diabetes. People who have close relatives with the disease are somewhat more likely to develop it. The risk of developing diabetes also increases as people grow older. People who are over 40 and overweight are more likely to develop diabetes. So are people of African-American, Hispanic or Asian heritage. Also, women who develop diabetes while pregnant are more likely to develop other types of diabetes later in life.

Diabetes Symptoms

While severity of symptoms can vary, many people with diabetes may experience some or all of these symptoms:

  • Fatigue (feeling weak, tired).
  • Increased urination.
  • Increased hunger (especially after eating).
  • Increased thirst.
  • Dry and itchy skin.
  • Skin infections.
  • Dry mouth.
  • Change in vision.
  • Slow healing wounds/cuts.
  • Unexplained weight loss or weight gain (not related to eating habits).

In some cases there are no diabetes symptoms – this can happen with type 2 diabetes. In this case, people can live for months, even years without knowing they have the disease.

Gestational Diabetes

The cause of gestational diabetes is unknown but there is some evidence that explains why some women develop the disease. As the placenta helps the baby to grow, some hormones block the action of the mother’s insulin in her body. Gestational diabetes starts when the body is unable to produce and use the needed insulin during pregnancy.

Gestational Diabetes Affect on Your Baby

Gestational diabetes does not cause birth defects. If gestational diabetes is poorly controlled or untreated it could hurt your baby. Your baby may be likely to have problems at birth could include:

  • Low sugar levels.
  • Jaundice.
  • Breathing problems.
  • Baby weighing more than normal.

Gestational Diabetes Treatment

Patients referred by their OB physician are seen for treatment by the Lennon Diabetes Center staff at the Cleveland Clinic Stephanie Tubbs Jones Health Center. Treatment includes:

  • Diabetes education.
  • Nutritional counseling.
  • Medication management.
  • Timely physician/midwife communication.