Center for Healthy Living's 'Living with Diabetes' program to offer education, support, medication discounts

"Living with Diabetes" is a comprehensive program offered by the Center for Healthy Living for people doing just that -- living with diabetes. The primary objective of the program is to share essential education and support so participants can manage their condition, stay healthy and prevent complications. Each participant will gain the educational tools needed for success and develop a plan to become an active partner with his or her health care provider.

To participate in the program, individuals must have a diagnosis of diabetes from a CHL provider or through documentation from an approved provider. The program tailored for the newly diagnosed as well as those with years of experience living with this disease. Attendees may invite a supportive family member or friend to attend the program with them.

Those wishing to participate in the upcoming program need to register by Dec. 23 by calling 49-45239 and begin setting initial meetings with the center’s team members. 

Diabetes meal planning, carbohydrate counting and physical activity will be emphasized because of their value in improving glycemic control, which plays an important role in overall health. Through this program, the CHL team members will share their knowledge and skills to help those with diabetes better understand the disease and live a healthier life. Participants of the program have access to those expert services of the center’s health care professionals, including:

* A registered nurse (RN) who is a certified diabetes educator and health and wellness coach.
* A pharmacist (PharmD) who is specially trained in medication therapy management (MTM).
* A registered dietitian (RD) who will assist with individualized meal planning.

The three combine to share valuable information specific to living with diabetes.

Suzanne Rossiter, registered nurse, certified diabetes educator and certified health and wellness coach, uses her comprehensive knowledge of and experience in pre-diabetes, diabetes prevention and management to educate and support people affected by diabetes.

“I feel having Type 1 diabetes myself helps me to better connect with my clients and understand from a personal level where they are coming from,” Rossiter says. “I work with clients to promote self-management to achieve individualized behavioral and treatment goals that optimize health outcomes and help them better manage their condition. Self-care behaviors such as glucose testing, healthy eating, physical activity, stress management and medication management are emphasized.”

A key component to managing diabetes, and other chronic health conditions, is to understand the need to take prescribed medications consistently and accurately.

“My role as a pharmacist is to teach patients how their medications work and ensure they know when and how to take them along with other prescriptions,” says Kamal Singh, worksite health pharmacist.

Ellen Welch, registered dietitian, helps participants learn about proper food and nutrition choices.

“I work with clients to help them make simple and sustainable changes to their diet which will help better control their blood sugar,” Welch says. “Whether it's carb counting, meal planning, diabetes-friendly recipes or general nutrition questions, I am here to help."  

In addition to CHL providers, participants will meet community providers in the fields of optometry, endocrinology and podiatry -- all of which have specific connections to diabetes.

The program begins Jan. 4 and consists of a pre-assessment, post-assessment, 12-week class that meets once a week and ongoing health coaching and pharmacist visits tailored to the participant’s needs.

Classes will run Mondays from Feb. 1 through April 25 and Thursdays from Feb. 4 through April 28. The class will not meet the week of March 19 due to spring break.

Participants will enroll for one of the following class meeting times:

* Mondays, noon-1 p.m. Campus location, TBD.
* Mondays, 2-3 p.m. Campus location, TBD.
* Thursdays, 8-9 a.m. Campus location, TBD .
* Thursdays, noon-1 p.m. Campus location, TBD.

Each class meeting time is limited to 20 participants. Purdue employees who work during the program’s meeting and appointment times may participate in paid status with supervisor approval and don’t need to take sick leave or vacation.

Following registration, participants will pick up a program packet from the Center for Healthy Living and will schedule their initial appointments with the pharmacist and the RN diabetes educator. The results of a lipid panel test and an A1C test done within the past 12 months will be needed before meeting with the pharmacist and the RN. Participants needing these tests may schedule an appointment with a provider at CHL.

Participants will be eligible for medication discounts, including 50 percent off their actual cost for preventive diabetes prescriptions, when they do the following:

* Complete the pre-assessment and the post-assessment.
* Attend 11 of the 12 class meetings, including the required Week 1 meeting.
* Continue to meet with the RN-diabetes educator, registered dietitian and the MTM pharmacist after finishing the 12-week class. The frequency of the meetings will depend on the participant's progress toward attaining an A1C level at or below 7.

Medication discounts will apply automatically through Express Scripts beginning the week of Feb. 15.

Participants will be removed from the program for failing to respond to three consecutive follow-up outreach communications from the diabetes educator, pharmacist or both, following a missed consult visit.

Details about the Living with Diabetes program and discounts are available online. Questions about the program should be directed to Singh at 49-66833.

All CHL workshops are free for benefits-eligible faculty and staff -- including those who have opted out of Purdue medical coverage -- and for spouses/same-sex domestic partners and adult dependents covered on a Purdue medical plan. For more information on services offered at the center, visit the center’s website.

The center is open for provider appointments 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Lab hours are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. For medical consultation needs after hours or on weekends, contact the Anthem nurse line at 888-279-5449 for assistance.