Diabetes Information

Upcoming Diabetes Classes

Living Healthy with Diabetes

Diabetes Self-Management Program (DSMP)

What is Living Healthy with Diabetes?

Living Healthy with Diabetes is a highly participatory workshop that takes place once a week for six weeks.  Each 2 1/2 hour session is facilitated by 2 trained leaders (many of whom are volunteers living with chronic conditions themselves) who follow a detailed manual, so that each workshop is highly consistent.

Although Living Healthy with Diabetes does not replace disease-specific education, it is designed to enhance regular treatment.  Participants will make weekly action plans, share experiences, and help each other solve problems they encounter in creating and carrying out their diabetes self-management program.  Physicians and other health professionals both at Stanford and in the community have reviewed all materials in the course.  It is the process in which the program is taught that makes it effective.  Classes are highly participative, where mutual support and success build the participants' confidence in their ability to manage their health and maintain active and fulfilling lives.

Workshop topics by week

Early Symptoms of Diabetes

• Increased Hunger and Excessive Thirst
• Frequent Urination
• Increased Fatigue
• Sudden Weight Gain or Loss

Symptoms and Information

Early Symptoms of Diabetes

• Increased Hunger and Excessive Thirst
• Frequent Urination
• Increased Fatigue
• Sudden Weight Gain or Loss

Later Symptoms of Diabetes

• Blurred Vision
• Numbing or Tingling in Feet
• Slow to Heal Wound
• Persistent Fungal Infections
• Diabetes affects your Heart, Eyes, Feet and Kidneys

More Information and Resources

• American Diabetes Association
• NC DHHS Diabetes Prevention and Control Branch
• Johnston UNC Health Care: Diabetes Education Program
• Johnston UNC Health Care: Diabetes Support Group

North Carolina Diabetes Umbrella Program (DERP)

According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), diabetes is a chronic disease that affects more than 18 million people in the United States. Self management education is critical to the medical care of the diabetic. To address this issue, the NC Division of Public Health has developed a recognized “umbrella” program with the ADA to provide self-management diabetes education in local health departments. ADA recognized programs can bill Medicaid, Medicare and have a sliding scale fee for self pay clients. North Carolina is the only state to provide an umbrella program.

The Diabetes Umbrella Education Program includes the following curriculum: disease process, diet, exercise, medication review and education, foot care, acute and chronic complications, mental health adjustments. Clients are required to set and sign patient centered goals for their diabetic condition at every encounter. The staff will measure their success and barriers at each assessment or class. On average the clients that have completed the Umbrella Program will have a decrease in their Hgb A1C by at least one point, weight reduction and are monitoring there blood glucose level independently on a regular basis.

We welcome clients to the Johnston County Diabetes Umbrella Program. However, to participate, you must be referred. ADA-recognized programs can bill medicaid, medicare and have a sliding fee for self pay clients. This program allows Private Providers in the County to refer their patients for Diabetic education which includes the following:

• Disease process
• Diet
• Exercise
• Medication review
• Acute and chronic complications and mental health adjustments

Clients are required to set and sign patient-centered goals for their diabetic condition with each encounter.

Referrals to the Johnston County Diabetes Umbrella Program (DERP)

• Every patient needs a signed referral form from their Primary Care Physician.
  • Lab Values are required on the form.
• Once the Health Department has the signed form, an assessment is completed by an RN or an RD. This assessment takes an hour to complete.
• Each Patient will receive eight hours of class time after completed assessment.
• The Class are done in a group setting or individual if needed.
• There is a three months from the date of the class, the patient will need to return to the Health Department for a one-hour follow-up group session.
• A total of ten hours is required for the program.
• Once the patient completes the program, the patient will receive a follow-up appointment to come back for two hours of education every year.

We welcome clients to the Johnston County Diabetes Umbrella Program. The JCHD Umbrella Program Physician Referral Forms are linked below. Your referral along with copies of the clients most recent lab values can be faxed to 919-989-5279.

Our goal is to provide the highest possible care for the our clients.

• DERP Referral Form for Providers
• DERP Referral Letter for Providers