Explore Endocrinology & DiabetesDiabetes Education
Diabetes Self-Management Education Program
Living with diabetes can feel difficult, but we are here to help you. Our Diabetes Self-Management Education Program is designed to help you understand diabetes and learn how to manage it. Patients who participate in diabetes education often have better health outcomes than those who don’t.
Our program has been recognized by the American Diabetes Association for meeting its national standards for self-management education programs. This means UConn Health’s program is well organized and offers high-quality education – an essential component of effective diabetes treatment.
We have registered nurses and registered dietitians who are Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialists here to guide and advise you. Our providers will encourage you to include your whole family in the program.
We provide care to help you achieve optimal health and offer the support you need to make well-informed decisions about your care. Our educational content and resources can easily be downloaded from our Cloud.
We understand the diversity of our community and are proud advocates for equity in healthcare. We work with many different community leaders and extend our education to the whole community, not just our patients. Three of our providers speak Spanish.
Group Sessions to Assist With Skills, Information, and Living With Diabetes
Our program offers a series of workshops to discuss all aspects of diabetes management, from basic information to advanced-level skills, in a small, supportive group. Your partner or support person is invited to attend with you.
Our team will meet with you and your support person to provide information on all aspects of diabetes management and control.
Workshops include:
- New to diabetes care
- Meal planning and carbohydrate counting
- Diabetes self-management series (full-day program)
- Education on using the insulin pump
Individual Counseling Sessions
You can also meet with our providers one-on-one and discuss any topic of interest.
Discussion topics include:
- Diabetes disease process and information on different types of diabetes
- Meal planning, carbohydrate counting, and weight control
- Physical activity and exercise
- Medications
- Self-blood glucose monitoring
- Continuous glucose monitoring
- Acute and chronic complications
- Sick-day management
- Ketone testing
- Pregnancy and pre-pregnancy planning
- Gestational diabetes guidance
- Stress management, risk reduction, and problem-solving
- Updates on new injection diabetes technology, monitoring devices, and medications
- Intensive insulin management and insulin pumps
Insurance Coverage
Many insurance plans cover fees for our services; a written referral will assist with insurance coverage. Please contact your insurer about coverage and out-of-pocket expenses. Payment or co-payment is required prior to the visit at check-in. Cash, check, and credit cards are accepted.
Program Locations
UConn Health
Outpatient Pavilion, 2nd Floor West
135 Dowling Way
Farmington, CT 06030
Directions
800 Connecticut Boulevard, 1st Floor
East Hartford, CT 06108
Phone: 860-282-8510
Directions
65 Kane Street
West Hartford, CT 06119
Directions
1115 West Street
Southington, CT 06489
Directions
How to Register
To register for group sessions or make an individual appointment, call 800-535-6232 or 860-679-3245.
A diabetes education referral is required for each patient before registering for a workshop or scheduling an appointment. Ask your provider who manages your diabetes to complete the referral in MyChart (electronic medical record) or Diabetes Education Referral Form and fax it to 860-679-8359.
