Diabetes Education
Adult diabetes education classes are offered through Jones Regional Medical Center. Any adult diabetics, no matter how long they have been diagnosed, are encouraged to discuss the classes with their physician or call for more information. Classes are offered on a weekly basis every Monday.
One of the goals of the classes is to maintain or improve diabetics' quality of life. People with diabetes can live healthy, productive and enjoyable lives if they obtain the skills to manage the disease themselves.
The National Institutes of Health estimates that 16 million Americans have diabetes and half of these cases are undiagnosed. More than 625,000 new cases of diabetes are diagnosed each year. Diabetes causes many health problems and is a leading cause of death. It also is an expensive disease, consuming almost 15 percent of the nation's health care expenditures.
These classes will help educate people on how to manage the disease, which in turn may significantly reduce health risks caused by diabetes. Certified diabetes educators teach the classes. Topics covered in the class include: what diabetes is and how it affects your body; good nutrition habits and how to plan meals and snacks; how physical activity can help you control your blood glucose; how to monitor your own blood glucose levels at home; and how to use blood glucose monitoring to work as a team with your doctor in managing your diabetes.
For more information on the diabetes classes, please contact St. Lukes at 319-369-7440 or 319-368-5890. To register for the class, please ask your doctor for a referral to the Diabetes Self Training Management classes offered at Jones Regional Medical Center. If you have attended classes in the past you may be eligible for an annual review by the Diabetes Educators with a physician's referral. To schedule an appointment for Diabetes Education at Jones Regional Medical Center, call 319-462-6131.
