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Diabetes Education Center

Diabetes Education Center814-443-5744

Who We Are

The Diabetes Education Center at UPMC Somerset was founded in 2004 to meet the growing need for diabetes education in our community. In 2006, the center received and continues to maintain recognition by the American Diabetes Association as a center meeting the national standards for diabetes self-management education. The center is staffed by a full-time Registered Dietitian.

What We Do

The Diabetes Education Center at UPMC Somerset works with a number of health care providers, individuals, businesses and the community as a whole, to increase awareness in the area of prevention and treatment of diabetes. We strive to offer the following:

  • Support for people living with Type 1, Type 2, gestational and/or pre-diabetes.
  • Education in all areas of self-management including but not limited to: healthy eating, physical activity, medications, monitoring, coping skills, reducing risks, and problem solving.
  • Individual appointments are available through one on one counseling for patients with all types of diabetes and a group class series is available for patients with Type 2 diabetes.
  • Direct communication between the Registered Dietitian and the Primary Care Provider informs the provider of their patient’s participation and progress toward goal achievement.
  • A free Support Group class is offered the second Wednesday of every month from 6-7pm.

Please contact your insurance for information about diabetes self-management coverage.

Medicare and most other insurances cover 2 hours of one-on-one counseling and 8 hours of group classes within the first 12 months following the initial diagnosis of diabetes. Ongoing coverage after the first year can vary by insurance plan; usual coverage is 2 hours per year.

Risk Factors for Diabetes and Prediabetes

Risk Factors that cannot be managed

  • Being over the age of 45
  • Having a family history of diabetes
  • Ethnicity
  • Having Gestational Diabetes or a baby weighing over 9 lbs

Risk Factors that can be managed

  • Being Physically inactive
  • Being Overweight
  • Having a diet low in fruits and vegetables

Did you Know?

  • Diabetes effects over 30 million (9.9% of the U.S. population) Americans every year and another 86 million people have prediabetes.
  • Diabetes is the 7th leading cause of death and major cause of complications such as heart disease, kidney disease, blindness, and amputations.
  • Until 10 years ago, Type 2 Diabetes accounted for less than 3% of all cases of new-onset diabetes in adolescents. At present, it accounts for 45%.

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