St. Vincent Diabetes Care is available at many locations for individuals with Type 1, Type 1.5 or Type 2 diabetes and those identified as pre-diabetic. St. Vincent Medical Group endocrinologists, diabetic nurse educators, and dietitians are available to help each patient achieve an optimal balance, to better manage diabetes, and to feel your best.
Diabetic support focuses on building self-management skills, recognizing impaired glucose tolerances, monitoring blood glucose, administering insulin, managing medications and side effects, and preventing diabetic-related conditions (neuropathy, foot and vision problems, polycystic ovary syndrome, vascular disease, and heart disease).
Classes and support groups discuss exercise, stress, nutrition and quality of life goal setting. Pediatric endocrinology and diabetes clinic is available at Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital at St. Vincent Indianapolis. Adult diabetes care is available any many St. Vincent locations.
The patient with diabetes can eat the same thing as other family members do! The key to controlling blood sugars is controlling carbohydrate portions. Through scientific research, it was determined it was the amount of carbohydrates, not the type, that raised blood sugars.
We can help develop an individual program that best fits your lifestyle. We offer diabetes education services for individuals (adults/children) with diabetes and their families.
Individual classes help participants learn how to control and manage diabetes.
Our self-management training program allows patients to:
Additional benefits of our program include:
Ask your healthcare provider for more information or contact the Dunn Diabetes Care Center at (812) 276-1288.
Diabetes is a chronic condition which affects approximately 21 million Americans. It is characterized by high blood sugar caused when the body is unable to produce or to properly use the hormone insulin, which is needed to convert sugars, starches and other foods into energy.
This type usually affects adults over 40 but can occur in younger people as well. More young people are getting type 2 diabetes due to unhealthy eating, lack of exercise and being overweight.
Type 2 Diabetes occurs when the body does not make enough insulin or cannot use the insulin it makes. This is called insulin resistance. People with type 2 diabetes might be able to manage it with diet and exercise. If this is not effective, pills and/or insulin could be necessary. Of people with diabetes, 90-95% have type 2.
Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that is discovered or diagnosed during pregnancy, most commonly around the 24th to 28th week of gestation. It can be treated with nutrition therapy only, or with the addition of insulin injections if needed to control the blood sugar level. Gestational diabetes usually resolves after delivery. However, women with gestational diabetes are at risk to develop type 2 diabetes and should be tested after delivery and periodically thereafter.
In pre-diabetes, blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be defined as diabetes. Many people with pre-diabetes develop type 2 diabetes within 10 years, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Pre-diabetes also increases the risk of heart disease and stroke. With modest weight loss and moderate physical activity, people with pre-diabetes can often delay or prevent type 2 diabetes.
Many symptoms of type 1 and type 2 diabetes are similar. With type 1 diabetes, symptoms occur more abruptly and are noticed quickly. Individuals with type 2 diabetes may have symptoms, such as feeling tired and thirsty for several years. Because the symptoms may be absent, mild or occur very gradually, these individuals often do not notify their doctors. In this case, the diabetes is discovered during a routine physical or when the person is in to see the doctor for another reason.
Symptoms of diabetes include:
The causes of diabetes are not well known, but both heredity and environment appear to play a role in its development. The American Diabetes Association recommends that testing be done in individuals who:
There are several steps people can take to reduce their risk for diabetes, the most beneficial being:
Diabetes affects an estimated 21 million people in the U.S. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) and the American Diabetes Association, those affected include:
According to the most recent statistics, diabetes was the sixth leading cause of death, and the fifth leading cause of death from disease.
The diabetes statistics listed below come from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Diabetes Fact Sheet for the United States, 2005.
The causes of diabetes are not well known, but both heredity and environment appear to play a role in its development. The American Diabetes Association recommends that testing be done in individuals who:
When Paul Dworkin entered the hospital last spring for treatment of necrotic cellulitis he received a second diagnosis he wasn’t expecting: Type 2 diabetes.
“I was surprised, but kind of shrugged it off,” says Paul, 44, who got the news after routine blood tests. During his 10-day hospital stay, his doctor and nurses talked to him several times about the importance of taking his diagnosis seriously, and they put him on a strict 1,800-calorie-a-day eating plan for diabetes.
“Still, it didn’t really sink in,” says Paul, who works as a restaurant manager. “I had this attitude that I was invincible.” That is, until a nurse told him during his hospital stay, “Look, you’re a diabetic and you’re still going to be one when you leave here.”
“That hit home,” he says.
Shortly after he was discharged, Paul started attending classes at the St. Vincent Diabetes Center. There he learned about key aspects of diabetes management and treatment, including blood sugar management, monitoring blood glucose, nutrition, meal management and exercise.
In just a few months, Paul has made significant changes and progress. He’s exercising regularly and eating healthier, his weight is down, and his blood glucose level is improving. He says he would not be where he is today without the care and support of his St. Vincent physician, Dr. Jason Everman, and the staff at the St. Vincent Diabetes Center, including certified diabetes educators Karen Ten Cate, Registered Dietitian, Joanne Lewis, Registered Nurse and Chris Linares, Administrative Assistant.
“These people are so helpful and knowledgeable,” Paul says. “Whenever I have a question or a concern about something, I call them and they get right back to me with an answer. I can’t thank them enough for all they have done to help me.”
Karen also credits Paul for doing his part to turn things around.
“Paul is very motivated to take care of himself and achieve optimum blood sugar control,” she says. Paul stays on top of his insulin doses, carbohydrate gram intake and activity level, and he has adopted a cooking style that is lower in total fat and higher in fruits and vegetables. He also looks up the nutritional information at restaurants whenever possible and checks his blood sugar before and two hours after each meal.
“I think he continues to do all these things because he feels dramatically better,” Karen says.
Paul says he’s taken what he’s learned at the St. Vincent Diabetes Center, and through his own research has created a personal plan that incorporates his lifestyle and hectic work schedule.
For example, Paul is on his feet all day and doesn’t always have time to sit down and eat a balanced meal in the middle of his work shift, so he eats protein bars and small snacks at work to maintain his energy level. He also ensures that he allots time for exercise before work four to six times a week. And because he loves to cook — and eat — he has learned how to make some of his favorite meals healthier.
“My philosophy is don’t think about what you can’t have,” Paul says. “Think how can I have what I want?”
Paul says he is committed to his new lifestyle and reaching his long-term health goals of losing even more weight and becoming insulin free.
“When I play by the rules and do what I should, I feel great and jump out of bed in the morning.”
Here are some of Paul’s tips that have helped him on his journey to healthful living:
Diabetes is the sixth leading cause of death among Americans, and the fifth leading cause of death from disease. Although it may be under-reported as a condition leading to or causing death, each year, more than 200,000 deaths are reported as being caused by diabetes or its complications.
Complications of diabetes include:
Because diabetes is a chronic, incurable disease that affects nearly every part of the body, a person must be under the care of a physician throughout his or her life.
Education is critical to managing diabetes. Our Diabetes Center offers a wide range of diabetes education and outpatient support services that help people manage their diabetes and live healthier lives.
Diabetes classes are taught by certified diabetes educators and emphasize self-management of diet, blood glucose monitoring, medications, exercise, foot care and other key aspects of diabetes management and treatment. You may also arrange private diabetes management consultations with one of our certified diabetes educators as recommended by your physician.
Accredited by the American Diabetes Association, this program is an evidence-based, eight-hour self-management training explaining how diabetes develops, how to deal with immediate complications, how to monitor blood sugar, how diabetes medications work, how to eat optimally to prevent immediate and long-term complications, and how activity affects blood sugar. Participants learn to identify potential sources of stress and at least one method of managing stress. The class includes individualized meal plans and general exercise guidelines for optimum diabetes control.
This one-hour class provides an overview of all levels of glucose intolerance and how best to manage this through meal planning, exercise and weight management, with the goal of preventing or delaying type 2 diabetes.
This two-hour class is designed specifically for women who have diabetes during pregnancy, known as gestational diabetes, which affects 4% of all pregnancies in the U.S. Participants are screened by their doctor and referred to St. Vincent Diabetes Center right away so that blood sugar levels can be normalized as soon as possible. The class is taught by a nurse and dietitian who are certified diabetes educators. Women learn how to manage their meal planning, how to monitor blood sugar and ketones and establish exercise guidelines, if permitted.
Information on pregnancy care for patients with gestational diabetes is available at our Women's Hospital site.
Individual sessions are arranged for the following:
A physician referral is required for all diabetes classes.
At St. Vincent we offer a number of classes, events and services all designed to help you achieve a healthy lifestyle. At our facilities, you will find dedicated professionals who are here to help you meet your health goals, from losing weight or increasing physical activity to helping your family eat right and preventing and managing disease. Learn more on our site about our community connections programs or call (317) 338-CARE (2273).
Diabetes pills or insulin may need to be stopped or changed before a test or surgery to keep your blood sugar in normal range. When your blood sugar is normal you heal better.
When you arrive at the test or surgery area, tell the nurse that you have diabetes. Be ready to tell them what your last blood sugar was before you left home and what pills and insulin you have taken in the last 12 hours.
After test or surgery:
You can also download this information.
Navigating the Insurance Maze: "Covered vs. Preferred"
Have you ever been given a free blood glucose meter, then discover the testing strips you need cost as much as your "free meter"? You may have been told the strips for your meter are "covered" on your insurance plan. That is often true, but are they "preferred" by your insurance plan?
Covered means your insurance plan will pay for part of the cost for the strips.
Preferred means your insurance plan has a contract with certain manufacturers, so you will pay less for the preferred strips than the covered strips. A good way to remember this is that you prefer to have preferred coverage.
Medicare part B pays for all strips at the same rate:
If you have questions or need assistance with this process, please contact the St. Vincent Diabetes Center at (317) 338-2349.
When an order for "diabetes education" is received, you will be contacted to set up an appointment for your education.
Individual insurance policies vary on reimbursement for educational services. Patients are encouraged to check their coverage prior to their appointment. Financial assistance is available for qualified candidates.
For more information, please call
(317) 338-2349.
Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Internal Medicine
Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Internal Medicine
Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
Nurse Practitioner, Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
2001 West 86th Street
Indianapolis, Indiana 46260
| Description | Phone |
|---|---|
| Main Line | 317-338-2345 |
2015 Jackson Street
Anderson, Indiana 46016
| Description | Phone |
|---|---|
| Main Line | 765-649-2511 |
1206 East National Avenue
Brazil, Indiana 47834
| Description | Phone |
|---|---|
| Main Line | 812-442-2500 |
1600 23rd Street
Bedford, Indiana 47421
| Description | Phone |
|---|---|
| Main Line | 812-276-1066 |
3700 Washington Avenue
Evansville, Indiana 47750
| Description | Phone |
|---|---|
| Main Line | 812-485-4000 |
2001 West 86th Street
Indianapolis, Indiana 46260
| Description | Phone |
|---|---|
| Main Line | 317-338-2345 |
301 Henry Street
North Vernon, Indiana 47265
| Description | Phone |
|---|---|
| Main Line | 812-352-4200 |
1907 West Sycamore Street
Kokomo, Indiana 46901
| Description | Phone |
|---|---|
| Main Line | 765-456-5433 |
1331 South A Street
Elwood, Indiana 46036
| Description | Phone |
|---|---|
| Main Line | 765-552-4600 |
473 East Greenville Avenue
Winchester, Indiana 47394
| Description | Phone |
|---|---|
| Main Line | 765-584-0004 |
911 North Shelby Street
Salem , Indiana 47167
| Description | Phone |
|---|---|
| Main Line | 812-883-5881 |
8050 Township Line Road
Indianapolis, Indiana 46260
| Description | Phone |
|---|---|
| Main Line | 317-415-8500 |
412 North Monroe Street
Williamsport, Indiana 47993
| Description | Phone |
|---|---|
| Main Line | 765-762-4000 |
