Garrett Regional Medical Center provides diabetes and nutrition services to empower our patients with the information they need to better manage their health. Our Outpatient Diabetes Education Program helps individuals better manage diabetes or pre-diabetes by making healthy choices and lifestyle changes.
Learn more about our Diabetes and Nutrition services:
- Prevent Type 2
- Outpatient Diabetes Education
- Outpatient Nutrition Counseling
- More About Diabetes
- More About Nutrition
Prevent Type 2
According to the Centers for Disease Control, one out of three adults has prediabetes and nine out ten do not know they have it.
Take this assessment to determine your risk for developing type two diabetes.
The Type 2 Prevention Program at Garrett Regional Medical Center is part of the Centers for Disease Control’s National Diabetes Prevention Program.
The program helps individuals:
- Build skills to lose weight, be more physically active, and manage stress
- Build motivation and accountability
- Develop habits that last
Click Here for Referral Form »
For more information or to enroll in the Type 2 Diabetes Prevention Program, contact Mitzi Wiltison, RN, CDE (301) 533-4271 or Ruth Chisholm, RDN, LDN at (301) 533-4010.
Know the Facts about Prediabetes
Outpatient Diabetes Education
The Outpatient Diabetes Education Program at Garrett Regional Medical Center provides comprehensive education for Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 diabetes and Gestational diabetes. The program is instructed by a certified diabetes educator who works with your physician to develop a plan to keep your blood sugar under control. Individual or group classes are offered depending on the needs and demands. Discussion topics may include how insulin works, the role of glucose, risk factors, preventing complications, monitoring, problem solving, healthy eating, benefits of physical activity, medications, and long term considerations. We can also assist with insulin adjustments, insulin pumps, or continuous glucose monitors.
Outpatient Diabetes Education Program services include:
- Type 1 Diabetes Education
- Type 2 Diabetes Education
- Gestational Diabetes Education
- Insulin Pump Training
- Prevent Type 2 program
Medicare and most insurance policies cover 10 hours of initial Diabetes Self-Management Education and 2 hours of support each year thereafter.
For more information contact Mitzi Wiltison, RN, CDE at (301) 533-4271.
Outpatient Nutrition Counseling
Meet with a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) to:
- Review your current eating habits
- Set realistic and achievable goals
- Discover your personalized nutrition plan
Ask your doctor to refer you for outpatient nutrition counseling. Click Here for Referral Form »
Medicare and most insurance policies cover nutrition counseling for diabetes and kidney disease. Please take full advantage of your benefit which offers both initial and follow up sessions. Private insurance may cover other conditions such as obesity and heart disease.
For more information, contact Ruth Chisholm, RDN, LDN at (301) 533-4010.
More About Nutrition
Find your healthy eating style and maintain it for a lifetime with nutrition education. Learn more about eating a variety of healthy foods from the 5 MyPlate food groups by visiting: www.choosemyplate.gov
Here are some of those healthy tips:
- Focus on whole fruits. Whole fruits include fresh, frozen, dried, and canned options. Choose whole fruits more often than 100% fruit juice.
- Vary your veggies. Vegetables are divided into five subgroups and include dark-green vegetables, red and orange vegetables, legumes (beans and peas), starchy vegetables, and other vegetables. Choose vegetables from all subgroups.
- Make half your grains whole grains. Choose whole grains more often.
- Vary your protein routine. Protein foods include both animal and plant sources. Choose a variety of lean protein foods from both plant and animal sources.
- Move to low-fat or fat-free milk or yogurt. Choose fat-free (skim) and low fat (1%) dairy foods.