Diabetes Education Program
Diabetes self-management education is an essential part of diabetes treatment. Participants in Cheshire Medical Center's Diabetes Self-Management Program — certified by the American Diabetes Association — will be taught self-care skills that will promote better management toward their diabetes while highly focusing on your individualized health goals.
Program statistics
- In 2022-23, participants who completed the DSME program or completed 2-3 sessions had an average A1c decrease of 1.8 points
- 2023-24 results are currently pending
Program topics
- Healthy eating
- Plate method concepts
- Carbohydrate counting, label reading
- Meal planning, shopping
- Physical activity and exercise
- Medication management and affordability
- Blood sugar testing/monitoring
- Stress and healthy coping
- Routine care and health management:
- For acute and long-term complications
- Short- and long-term goal setting
- Continue glucose monitoring training and education management
- Insulin pump and patches, smart insulin pens and other insulin delivery device education and management
- Preconception, gestational diabetes and pregnancy with preexisting diabetes
Insurance coverage
Most insurance plans cover diabetes education including Medicare, Medicaid and commercial plans. Medicare covers 10 hours within the first year of diabetes diagnosis and/or the start of Medicare benefits, then will cover 2 additional hours annually for follow up education. Medicare, Medicaid and commercial insurances may also cover medical nutrition therapy. The first year of diagnosis, 3 hours is covered, then an annual follow up of 2 hours. Commercial offers similar coverage for both diabetes education and MNT.
Contact your insurance and ask how many visits are allotted per calendar year. Our program offers both services under our registered dietitian, certified diabetes care and education specialist.
Next steps
Your primary care provider or diabetes care provider can submit a referral or contact them for more information. The initial assessment will determine which areas to focus on when developing your individual diabetes self-management success plan.
When to get a referral
- At diagnosis or never participated in diabetes self-management education before
- Yearly
- When it’s hard to manage diabetes
- Emotional and coping factors
- When new health issues arise
- Starting a new diabetes medication
- Life changes
- Changes in access for food and medication, living situation, new insurance coverage
Victoria Ferrante, RD, CDCES
Program Coordinator of Cheshire's Diabetes Self-Management Program, Registered Dietitian, Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist
Vicky specializes in diabetes self-management, including insulin pump therapy — with and without automated insulin delivery — smart pen insulin therapies, CGM technology and diabetes counseling techniques to empower and educate clients with diabetes. She strongly believes in health equity, where everyone deserves the right tools and resources that help reduce diabetes burden while improving quality of life. She works closely with local and national programs to ensure diabetes medication and diabetes technology affordability for those who have challenges with and without insurance. Her mission is to provide a positive and warm environment for every client she serves to ensure they achieve their personal diabetes goals.
Vicky proudly designed and is currently managing Cheshire Medical Center's Diabetes Self-Management Program, which has been accredited through the American Diabetes Association since November 2022.