Diabetes Management Center
Contact: Susan Vinchesi
Phone: (860) 892-6906
Email: svinchesi@wwbh.org
The William W. Backus Hospital established the Diabetes Management Center to provide comprehensive care to all residents throughout the region. A multi-disciplinary team collaborates with the primary care provider. "Living with Diabetes: An Outpatient Self-Management Program" provides an educational program in accordance with the American Diabetes Association National Standards.
As a person with diabetes you will be given the opportunity to be a vital part of a comprehensive health team. You will be the center of a detailed and individualized diabetes plan of care. The coordination of your care with the primary care provider is an essential aspect of this program.
Primary care provider-referral is required. The multi-disciplinary Team at the Diabetes Management Center consists of:
- Board Certified Endocrinologist
- Certified Diabetes Educators
- Registered Dietitians
- Nurse Specialist
An important aspect of this program is the collaboration with and referral to other health professionals such as:
- Podiatrist
- Cardiologist
- Ophthalmologist
- Pharmacist
- Social Worker
- Physical Therapist
A key goal of the individualized diabetes team is for you, the person with diabetes, to be involved in the establishment of your management program. This is based on your individual needs. Specific goals are established. Follow-up with available resources is provided, as needed. It is essential for you to understand your diabetes. The importance of blood glucose monitoring is stressed. The Diabetes Management Center has comprehensive specialized services to assist individuals to prevent and manage or avoid diabetes-related complications through intensive diabetes care and management. This is accomplished by:
- Physician Consultation
- Individual Instruction
- Group Education
- Support Groups
- Medical Nutrition Therapy
- Blood Glucose Self Monitoring
- Medication Management
- Community Outreach
- Community Education
Living with Diabetes: An Outpatient Self-Management Program
The goals of this program are to assist individuals to:
- Gain an understanding of diabetes
- Develop methods of controlling diabetes
- Design an individualized treatment plan, which facilitates leading an active healthy life and reduces the risk of developing long term complications.
This program is offered every month with day and evening hours available. It consists of five sessions. The first session is an individual appointment with the Diabetes Nurse Educator and the Clinical Dietitian. The following four sessions are two-hour classes with specific educational components. All participants have a follow-up three monthsafter completion of the program in order to determine their progress in diabetes management. The primary care providers are kept informed of your progress. For more information, or to register, please call (860) 892-6906.
Family members and/or significant others are welcome and encouraged to attend the sessions.
The cost of the program includes all of the diabetes educational needs (i.e. blood glucose monitoring, medical information, insulin injection instruction, meal planning and adjustment, and a follow up appointment.) The hospital business office will assist with the billing of insurance companies.
This diabetes self-management education program has been awarded recognition by the American Diabetes Association in accordance with the National Standards for Diabetes Self-Management Education Programs.