Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support Program
Program Overview
A large part of successfully managing your diabetes and preventing complications
is skilled self-care. Learning how to self-manage your diabetes is an
important part of your diabetes care.
The Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) program at Torrance
Memorial's Outpatient Specialty Center, is a comprehensive educational
program designed to provide patients with diabetes, the essential knowledge
and support they need to achieve better glucose control and help prevent
complications.
Our DSMES program is certified by the American Diabetes Association and
staffed by Certified Diabetes Educators who are either Registered Nurses
or Registered Dietitian Nutritionists.
We provide a comfortable, interactive environment where patients learn
self-care skills and lifestyle modification techniques. Our program's
classes supports patients with all types of diabetes who are either newly
diagnosed or have a longer history of diabetes.
The mission of our program is to:
- Empower patients with diabetes with self-management skills
- Encourage self-care behaviors to prevent diabetes complications
- Promote overall health and well-being to improve quality of life
Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support Classes
Our team of expertly trained diabetes educators works closely with patients
and their physicians to develop an individualized self-care program based
on their medical history and individualized goals. The program utilizes
the latest research and training recommendations from the American Diabetes
Association (ADA) to empower patients to improve their short and long-term outcomes.
Our program outcomes include participant self-identified improved self-care
skills through improved meal planning, increased physical activity, weight
loss and a statistically significant average decrease in their A1C level,
averaging 1.6% (2015-2016 survey data). This equals an average blood glucose
decrease of over 40 points.
Our program consists of an individualized consultation for each patient
first, followed by a series of four small group classes. Individual appointments
can be arranged for patients that may have special needs such as, but
not limited to, being hearing impaired.
After completing our program, participants receive a free 1-week gym membership
at the Torrance Memorial Fitness Center (same location as the diabetes
classes) for a one-on-one consultation with our Cardiac Rehab Exercise
Physiologist. Additionally, graduates of our program are encouraged to
attend the Diabetes Support Group to help with maintaining their lifestyle changes.
The self-care behaviors you'll develop in our DSMES classes will help
you successfully manage your diabetes and prevent or reduce the severity
of diabetes complications.
Our classes cover the following topics:
- Physiology of diabetes
- Blood glucose monitoring, pattern identification and management
- Understanding your medications and medication management
- Carbohydrate counting
- Reading food labels
- Meal planning and dining out
- Risk reduction of short and long-term complications
- Prevention and treatment of high and low blood glucose levels
- Exercise guidelines
- Healthy coping skills
Medical Nutrition Therapy
Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) is provided by a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist.
MNT is a therapeutic approach to managing medical conditions and symptoms
through proper diet and nutrition. During your one-on-one consultation
with a dietitian, your individual nutritional needs will be addressed,
and a personalized meal plan will be created to help you better manage
your diabetes. MNT goes hand-in-hand with the DSMES program, to provide
the most comprehensive and individualized care for each patient.
Sweet Success, Diabetes and Pregnancy
If you are pregnant and have diabetes (either prior to your pregnancy or
developed diabetes during your pregnancy), you may worry about its impact
on your baby. You'll meet one-on-one with a diabetes educator, to
learn the facts about diabetes and pregnancy. Our educator will work with
you to develop an individualized plan to help you and your baby stay healthy.
Our Certified Diabetes Educators are specially trained through the Sweet
Success program, which is part of the California Department of Diabetes
and Pregnancy Program (CDAPP) and administered by the California Department
of Public Health.
Sweet Success is the national gold standard in caring for women with pregnancy
and diabetes.
Diabetes Support Group
Sometimes it helps to share with others who are on a similar life journey.
The Diabetes support group is led by one of our diabetes educators and
provides a safe forum to express concerns, discuss experiences, and ask
questions of others, who just like you, are living with diabetes.
There is no cost to attend and no reservations are needed. Type 1s and
Type 2s are encouraged to attend at the date/times listed below; however,
meetings are open to all regardless of the type of diabetes they have.
Type I Support Group
- Meeting: Second and Fourth Tuesday of every month
- Time: 6:30 - 7:30 pm
- Location: Torrance Memorial Specialty Center, 3rd Floor, Conference Room 350
- Get Directions
Type II Support Group
- Meeting: First and Third Wednesday of every month
- Time: 1 - 2 pm
- Location: Torrance Memorial Specialty Center, 3rd Floor, Conference Room 350
- Get Directions
For more information about the Diabetes Outpatient Education Center, please
call 310-891-6707.