Diabetes Education
The Community Health Diabetes Education Program provides information, support from Certified Diabetes Educators and resources for:
- self-managed care
- medication management
- lifestyle improvements like exercise and nutrition
Patients diagnosed with all stages of diabetes are referred to the education program by their provider. Each patient is linked to a Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE) who will review the three-part program and schedule the follow up sessions. The three-phase program includes:
- an initial assessment
- individual or group sessions
- follow-up session three months later
Community Health’s Certified Diabetes Educators meet with patients at Community Health’s practices for individual and group sessions.
The diabetes education program features a team of Certified Diabetes Educators, guidance from the Diabetes Advisory Committee and accreditation from the Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists (ADCES), a nationally recognized professional organization that reviews the program annually.
Diabetes in Our Community
Diabetes is one of the four illnesses identified in the state of Vermont’s 3-4-50 initiative that spotlights the overwhelming impact of chronic disease in the state. “Three behaviors (no physical activity, poor diet, tobacco use) lead to 4 diseases (cancer, heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, lung disease) and result in 50% of deaths in Vermont.” According to data from the Vermont Department of Health website, 10% of the residents of Rutland County and 8% of Addison County are diabetic.
Community Health Diabetes Advisory Committee
Community Health’s Diabetes Advisory Committee is made up of representatives from the medical, clinical, quality control, educational and community aspects of diabetes education and treatment. Working in concert with medical and educational experts in the community, members of the board provide avenues for:
- improving patient knowledge about medications and self-management
- referrals to experts in endocrinology and other specialties
- connecting patients with programs that promote physical activity and nutrition education
The quality director at Community Health works closely with quality coordinators who manage the data collected from patients diagnosed with diabetes to develop and assess quality improvement outcomes and evaluate the trends and gaps in care that are reflected in the data.
Community Health Diabetes Education Staff
Claudia Courcelle, RN, BSN, MSA, CCM, Director of Care Management and Diabetes Education Program
Michele Redmond, RN, BSN, CDCES, Quality Coordinator, Community Health Castleton
Robin Myers, DNP, FNP-BC, CDCES, Community Health Brandon
Maria Bilinski, RN, CDCES, CCM, Community Health Rutland
Colleen Bates, MA, CCHW, Community Health Mettowee
Jean Pringle, LPN, DCCC, Community Health Shorewell
For more information about Community Health’s diabetes education program, consult your primary care provider. Ask about our three-phase program and our team of expert educators who can help you to learn how to manage your diabetes and live a healthy lifestyle.
Diabetes Education Locations
Community Health Mettowee
278 VT Route 149
West Pawlet, VT 05775
Community Health Brandon
420 Grove Street
Brandon, VT 05733
Community Health Castleton
275 Route 30 North
Bomoseen, VT 05732
Community Health Rutland
215 Stratton Road
Rutland, VT 05701
Community Health Shorewell
2987 VT Route 22A
Shoreham, VT 05770