CentraCare Diabetes Services

Diabetes Education & Management in Central Minnesota

COVID-19 and Diabetes

• Individuals with chronic conditions - like diabetes - may be at a higher risk for COVID-19. With this in mind, diabetics should be aware of the following services and resouces:
• Video Visits Offered for Patients with Chronic Conditions - Patients will continue to meet with their regular provider. Video visits are available to patients of all CentraCare locations. Learn more
• Diabetes Hotline - Available Monday thru Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 320-229-5000.
Online Resources:
• Managing Diabetes Safely During Sick Days (PDF)
• COVID-19 Information From the American Diabetes Association
• Help With Insulin Costs from NovoCare
• Insulin Savings from Eli Lilly and Company

Managing diabetes can be overwhelming. Our team is here to support you. With the right care and education, most complications can be prevented.

CentraCare provides a full range of diabetes care for patients and families in our region through education, leadership, health promotion and preventive services. Whether you are a patient newly diagnosed with diabetes, or have been diagnosed for a long time and need assistance with a diet, exercise and/or medication treatment, we help you manage your diabetes so you can maintain the best possible health and quality of life. Ask your provider for a referral.

Our team of experts includes:

• Endocrinologists (specialist who care for patients with diabetes)
• Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialists (registered nurses, registered dietitians)
• Pharmacists
• Internal Medicine
• Family Medicine

CentraCare has received the American Heart Association’s Target: Type 2 Diabetes℠ Gold Award for outpatient practices implementing quality improvement measures addressing the relationship between diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Diabetes Education

Several CentraCare locations offer diabetes self-management education. Diabetes can be life-threatening if you don’t know how to manage it, so learning the basics should be your first priority after being diagnosed. Our education programs are available to teach you ways to prevent complications so you can confidently take control of your health.

Basics of diabetes management:

• Measure blood-sugar levels – Diabetes is a condition which stops or reduces the production of insulin in the body. Insulin is responsible for converting sugar into energy, so without it, your health is put at risk. It is important to know how to measure and adjust your blood-sugar levels to prevent serious health complications.
• Maintain a healthy weight – Being overweight makes it even harder to manage diabetes. Diabetes can cause problems with the circulatory system, and obesity makes these problems worse.
• Create a healthy diet – You need to eat a balanced diet that includes leafy greens and lean protein. Our experienced nutritionist can help you make a diabetes-healthy diet.
• Exercise – Exercising for just 30 minutes a day, five days a week will be a big boost for your health and fitness.

We will work closely with you and your family to develop a management plan that is right for you. An individualized plan allows you to make choices that put your in control of your life and diabetes, rather than letting the disease control you.

Other diabetes services and education include:

• Gestational diabetes – Consultation and follow up with pregnant women diagnosed with gestational diabetes or those with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes and now pregnant are appropriately managed to ensure a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby.
• Prediabetes - Lifestyle change planning, coaching and education for people diagnosed with prediabetes, a condition in which blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not high enough to be considered diabetes.
• Management of advanced diabetes technologies including professional continuous blood glucose monitoring, personal continuous blood glucose monitoring, insulin pump technology, and insulin smart pen technology.
• Assisting with applying for drug assistance (to lower cost of medications), finding additional low resources, and connecting patients with diabetes to community support services.

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