Eight years later, Sutter Amador Hospital’s Outpatient Diabetes Education Program has grown and now has two additional educators – Maureen Mooney-Michels, a Registered Dietitian, and Ellissa Hallen, RN and instructor for the Spanish diabetes classes. As Certified Diabetes Educators, they work with the patients' doctor as an 'education team' to teach the essential skills necessary to help patients with their diabetes. "Diabetes is a manageable disease when the patient receives the right tools, education, and has a willingness to make small behavioral changes. That's where we as educators come in.

We help the patient understand the relationship between what they eat, what their blood sugar is, how activity or stress plays a role in blood sugar control, and how medications work. We can help the patients learn how to make simple changes to improve their blood sugar", says da Silva.“Many patients are confused about what they should eat, or what 'diet' they should be on,” says Mooney-Michels. “We are here to help patients sort through this maze of mixed information.” Sutter Amador Hospital’s Outpatient Diabetes Education Program began in January 1999 with 126 patients visits the first year. This year, the Diabetes Program has had over 1,230 patient visits. This number is about to increase due to the new partnership formed between Sutter Amador Hospital and Mark Twain Hospital. The two hospitals have joined together in an effort to meet the needs of patients who suffer from diabetes in both Calaveras and Amador counties.

This new partnership means that physicians from Mark Twain Hospital can now refer patients to Sutter Amador Hospital’s diabetes program as well as physicians from Sutter Amador Hospital. “Together we will have more impact and reach more community members in need of diabetes education,” says Vagt. The hospital also sponsors a diabetes support group, which is free and is offered to anyone who has diabetes or needs information about diabetes. The group meets the fourth Thursday of each month at the hospital, unless a holiday falls on that day. Speakers cover all aspects of education that pertain to diabetes.

A variety of local professionals such as wound care specialists, optometrists, and dentists have been available to educate the group on diabetes care and management. Patients from both Amador and Calaveras can take advantage of Sutter Amador Hospital’s diabetes program. All insurance companies, and Medicare cover diabetes education. Medi-Cal patients can be seen through the hospital's charity care program.If you are newly diagnosed with diabetes or have been a person with diabetes for many years, call to learn about the newest up-to-date information on how to manage your diabetes. For more information on how to access the Outpatient Diabetes Program, speak to your physician or call 209-223-7448.