Our Services

Skagit Regional Health offers a comprehensive education program for adults with diabetes, either newly diagnosed or for those patients needing extra guidance with diabetes control at both Skagit Valley Hospital and Cascade Valley Hospital.

A referral is required from your provider and insurance company that includes clinical information about your diabetes. The program is covered by most insurance companies. Patients who are not covered by insurance may self-refer; you may qualify for sliding scale payments. Referrals should be faxed to 360-814-5515 for Skagit Valley Hospital and Cascade Valley Hospital. Our hours are weekdays 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Skagit Regional Health’s Diabetic Education Program is certified by the American Diabetes Association and recognized by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

For other questions, or more information about the program, call our Diabetes Education Scheduler at 360-814-8329.

Our Program

The Diabetes Education program includes group education classes, a one-on-one appointment with a dietitian, and a three-month follow-up group class.

The Diabetes Education classes include the following topics:

• Diabetes knowledge
• Meal planning
• Physical activity
• Monitoring blood glucose
• Medication management
• Insulin management
• Risk reduction
• Coping and problem solving

All classes are taught in English. Non-English speaking patients will be provided education in individual sessions utilizing medical interpreters.

Program instructors include registered nurses, registered dietitians, a pharmacist, a certified physician assistant and certified diabetes educators.

Did you know?

• Most insurance plans will cover up to 10 hours of diabetes education in a 12-month period.
• In addition, your insurance plan may authorize three additional hours of medical nutrition therapy during the same 12-month period, with two additional hours every year thereafter. Medical Nutrition Therapy is taught by a registered dietitian.
• The program offers group classes and individual counseling to help you gain better control of your health.

Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM)

Management of diabetes involves maintaining blood glucose levels close to the normal range. Standard methods for glucose testing currently include self-monitoring of blood glucose and laboratory testing of HbA1c to measure longer term glycemic control.

Continuous glucose monitoring systems (CGMs) were developed to gain a more complete picture of blood glucose levels. These systems monitor interstitial glucose levels every five minutes, or 288 times per day. A small sensor, worn in the abdominal area, measures and stores data for four to five days. The data provides important information about glucose trends throughout the day and night to help the patient and provider optimize control of glucose levels for improved health.

A referral is required from your provider and insurance company that includes clinical information about your diabetes. The CGM program is covered by most insurance companies. Patients not covered by insurance may self-refer; you may qualify for sliding scale payments. Referrals should be faxed to 360-814-5515. Our hours are weekdays 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Gestational Diabetes Program

Gestational diabetes affects approximately 7-14 percent of all pregnant women. Careful control of blood sugar and weight is important to prevent complications for both mother and baby.

Skagit Regional Health offers a referral-based education program to improve gestational diabetes self-management skills. Our highly trained and dedicated diabetes education team provides participants with the skills to manage their blood sugar through healthy eating, stress management, increased activity and blood glucose monitoring. The program offers a one-hour group class plus individual nutrition therapy appointments.

For more information please contact our Diabetes Education Program at 360-814-8329.

For More Information about Diabetes Care at Skagit Regional Health

To learn more about our comprehensive care and management of diabetes, please contact one of our team members at Skagit Regional Health at 360-814-8329. We can help you make an appointment with a diabetes specialist at one of our convenient locations.