UF Health Diabetes Education and Nutrition

Diabetes affects millions of Americans and is the nation's sixth deadliest disease. Diabetes is also the leading cause of blindness, kidney failure, amputations, heart disease and stroke.

However, through the use of educational tools for healthy eating, exercising and medication leading a happy and healthy life with a diabetes diagnoses is possible.

Managing diabetes

People with all types of diabetes can take control of their lives by learning to manage the condition with the latest advances in medical care and education. UF Health Diabetes Education and Nutrition provides patients with the most up-to-date educational programming.

The services provided by UF Health Diabetes Education and Nutrition are recognized by the American Diabetes Association for achieving the quality standards for diabetes education and support. With the program's unique hands-on approach, people with diabetes can improve their quality of life while delaying and preventing the complications of this condition.

Getting started

Patients are required to obtain a referral from their physician to receive education. There are two services available with a physician referral: Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) or Diabetes Self-Management Training (DSMT).

Medical nutrition therapy (MNT)

Medical Nutrition Therapy is an individual nutrition appointment with a registered dietician/nutritionist, or RDN. The RDN works closely with you to create a meal plan that includes the foods you enjoy while still supporting healthy blood sugar, blood pressure and blood cholesterol. The individual with diabetes does not need to avoid or exclude foods to be healthy with diabetes.

Diabetes self-management (DSMT)

After an individual session with a diabetes educator, patients attend a series of group classes taught by health care professionals with extensive knowledge and experience in diabetes. These sessions include two to 10 patients and are offered multiple times a month. Individual appointments are available if group education is not appropriate. Educational topics can be seen below.

Individual session

• Complete assessment of current diabetes knowledge and educational needs
• Education on proper medication use and safety
• Education on glucose monitoring, glucose meter set-up, and use of sugar logs
• Psychological/family support and concerns

Group sessions

• Diabetes: the disease process and treatment options
• Nutrition support for blood sugar and blood sugar goals
• Management of high sugar, low sugar or diabetes care when sick
• Diabetes complications and prevention strategies
• Healthy coping strategies

Annual follow-up

A patient is eligible for an individual two-hour visit each year after the initial education has been completed.

Other individual education appointments

These individual education sessions and appointments are covered by Medicare and most commercial insurers.

• Complications Assistance Should complications appear, physicians may recommend a one or two-hour visit.
• Advanced Meal Planning and Carbohydrate Counting Session An educator works with patients to increase understanding of blood sugar pattern management for better diabetes control or preparation for an insulin pump.
• New Insulin, Medication or Meter Start An educator assists patients with new regimens.
• Gestational Diabetes Visit: Diabetes during pregnancy An educator assists patients with managing blood sugar during pregnancy.

Please contact ufhdiabetesedu@shands.ufl.edu for more information.