Diabetes Self-Management Training Program
Ninety-nine percent of diabetes management is self-care - that does not
mean you have to travel this road alone! Diabetes Self-Management Training
(DSMT) is a comprehensive educational program designed to provide participants
with the skills, knowledge, and support needed to manage diabetes.
The DSMT program is certified by the American Diabetes Association and
staffed by Certified Diabetes Educators who are either Registered Nurses
or Registered Dietitians. Our prorgram provides a comfortable interactive
environment where patients learn self-care and lifestyle modification
techniques. The program supports patients who are newly diagnosed or have
a longer history of diabetes, are pre-diabetic, or have gestational diabetes.
The mission of our program is to:
- Empower participants with diabetic's self-management skills
- Encourage self-care behaviors to prevent diabetes complications
- Promote health to improve quality of life
- Decrease risk factors for diabetes through community research
Our Team
The comprehensive diabetes education program's team is comprised of
certified diabetes educators (Registered Nurses and Registered Clinical
Dietitian/Nutritionist) and program assistants, all of whom are specifically
trained to provide individual and/or group consultations that address
the following:
- Diabetes disease process understanding
- Prevention of acute and chronic complications such as high and low blood
glucose levels, kidney and eye damage, amputation prevention, and understanding
important relevant blood work
- Individualized healthy meal planning for a lifetime
- Stress management, exercise techniques, problem solving and coping skills
- Patients are entitled by insruance to enroll annually
Diabetes Classes
Our team works closely with the patient and their physician to develop
an individualized self-care program based on medical history and individualized
goals. The program utilizes the latest research and training recommendations
from the ADA to empower patients and optimize short and long-term outcomes.
Our program outcomes include participant self-identified improved self-care
through improved meal planning, increased activity, weight loss and a
statistically significant average decrease in A1C of 1.6% (2015-2016 survey
data), which equals an average blood glucose derease of over 40 points.
Our program consists of an individualized consultation followed by a series
of four small group classes; individual appointments can be arranged as needed.
After program completion, participants receive a free 1-week gym membership
at the Torrance Memorial Fitness Center and one-on-one consultation with
our Cardiac Rehab Exercise Physiologist. In addition, class graduates
are encourage to attend the Diabetes Support Group to promote maintenance
of successful lifestyle changes.
The self-care behaviors that you will develop in DSMT classes will help
you successfully manage your diabetes and prevent or reduce the severity
of diabetes complications. Classes cover the following topics:
- ABC's of diabetes
- Blood glucose monitoring, pattern identification and management
- Medication management: what, when, how and why
- Carbohydrate counting
- Reading food labels
- Meal planning and dining out
- Risk reduction of long-term complications
- Prevention and treatment of high and low blood glucose
- Exercise guidelines
- Healthy coping skills
Medical Nutrition Therapy
Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT), provided by a Registered Dietitian, 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 nutrition 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 DSMT program to provide the most comprehensive
and individualized program.
YMCA Diabetes Prevention Program
In partnership with Torrance-South Bay YMCA and generously sponsored by The
Torrance Memorial Lundquist Lurie Cardiovascular Institute.
If you are at risk for type 2 diabetes, the YMCA's Diabetes Prevention
Program provides a supportive environment where you can work with others
in a small group setting to learn how to adopt healthy habits to reduce
your chances of developing diabetes.
The program, which is led by a trained Lifestyle Coach in a classroom setting,
is delivered over a 12-month period, beginning with 16 one-hour weekly
sessions followed by 8 monthly maintenance sessions. You will learn strategies
for eating healthier, increasing your physical activity and making other
changes that will improve your overall health and well-being. National
Institutes of Health research has proven that programs like the YMCA's
Diabetes Prevention Program can reduce the number of cases of type 2 diabetes
by almost 60%.
Lifestyle changes such as eating healthier, increasing physical activity
and losing a modest amount of weight can prevent or delay development
of type 2 diabetes in those at high risk for the disease. With the YMCA's
Diabetes Prevention Program, you can work with others in a small group
setting to learn how to adopt habits that will improve your overall health
and well-being and reduce your risk and ensure that you can live life
to its fullest.
For additional information about YMCA's Diabetes Prevention program
in Torrance, California, call Jamisson Costa, Diabetes Prevention Regional
Director at 310-602-4905, or email
jamissoncosta@ymcala.org, or visit
www.ymcala.org/DPPsignup to fill out an interest form.
Sweet Success, Diabetes and Pregnancy
If you are pregnant and have diabetes, you may be worried about its impact
on your baby. Through our Sweet Success program, you will meet one-on-one
with a diabetes educator to learn the facts and develop an individualized
plan to help you and your baby stay healthy.
Our Certified Diabetes Educators are specially trained through the Sweet
Success program; developed by the California Department of Pregnancy and
Diabetes, Sweet Success is the national gold standard in caring for women
with pregnancy and diabetes.
Diabetes Support Group
Sometimes it helps to share with and hear and learn from others who are
on a similar journey. The Diabetes support group provides a forum to express
concerns, discuss experiences, and ask questions among others living with
diabetes. Free, No reservations need.
- Meeting: First and Third Wednesday of every month
- Time: 1 - 2 pm
- Location: Specialty Building, 3rd Floor, Conference Room 350
- Meeting: Second and Fourth Tuesday of every month
- Time: 6:30 - 7:30 pm
- Location: Specialty Building, 3rd Floor, Conference Room 350