Boston Medical Center’s Diabetes Education program is designed to help you and your primary care providers understand your diabetes and any related conditions through education, medication, monitoring, and nutrition and exercise recommendations. Even small changes in behaviors can lead to improvements in health and health-related quality of life!
Diabetes Awareness Month
November is World Diabetes Awareness Month!
Through the month of November, the BMC Diabetes Education team is doing small daily activities to improve health, and we are asking our patients to participate as well! Our goal is to increase public awareness of the challenges faced by people living with diabetes, and to encourage our patients to engage in small steps, every day, that are known to improve outcomes.
The daily activity calender is available in English, Spanish, Haitian Creole, and Portuguese.
Empowering Patients with Skills and Support
Diabetes Education is a program of BMC’s Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes, Nutrition, and Weight Management. The program aims to enhance self-care knowledge and skills, support behavioral change, promote general health, and reduce the risk of complications associated with diabetes. This can include individual visits with endocrinologists, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, pharmacists, and dietitians.
BMC offers individual and group classes for diabetes education. You may meet with diabetes education team staff in the group, individually, or in both settings. Courses are often paired with a cooking demonstration and tasting.
Providers: In order to place a referral for Diabetes Education in EPIC, go to Orders and select DSME. Choose group or individual as appropriate.
Diabetes Education Classes
Further Resources for Topics Covered in Class
Exercise and Stress Relief
- Guided meditation/breathing exercises:
Headspace: Grounding Exercise for Racing Minds: Calming Meditation with Dora Kamau
Headspace: Mini Meditation: Let Go of Stress - Tutorial on wall push-ups: Margaret Martin, Physical Therapist: BEST Wall Push Ups for Seniors & Beginners
Nutrition
- Sources of protein: American Diabetes Association: Protein Food for Diabetes
- Guidance on whole grains: American Heart Association: Get to Know Grains: Why You Need Them, and What to Look For
Medical Safety
- Staying aware of your blood pressure: PharmaSmart: Blood Pressure Kiosk Locations
- Sharps safety: U.S. Food & Drug Administration: Be Smart with Sharps (PDF)
Our Team
Diabetes Education team, from left to right: Kyle Bertram, PharmD-CDCES, Katelyn O’Brien, PharmD-CDCES, Corrine Aia, RD-CDCES, Mara Garwood, RD-CDCES, Sheicia Paul, RN-CDCES, Elizabeth Brouillard, RD-CDCES
Diabetes information found on these pages should not replace education or instruction from your healthcare provider or certified diabetes educator. We encourage all patients to personalize their diabetes management in collaboration with their healthcare team.