Diabetes Education and Support Services

Doctors at Sutter Medical Foundation work with our Diabetes Education Program to ensure their patients are managing their diabetes successfully. There are four main instances in which your doctor should refer you to a diabetes educator, including:

• Upon diagnosis.
• Annually to reassess your care.
• When you’ve had changes to your care.
• After being released from the hospital

Whether you have recently been diagnosed with diabetes or want to get better control over your condition, our 15 diabetes educators — registered nurses, registered dieticians and certified diabetes educators — work with you to individualize your care.

Individualized Support and Classes

Before you join a class, you will meet with a diabetes educator to assess your understanding of the disease and how well you are managing it. Based on your needs and management goals, we individualize a diabetes management program for you. Our diabetes educators become an important part of your health team, helping you monitor and improve your blood sugar levels, solve problems with day-to-day issues, understand your medications and create plans for healthy eating, physical activity and coping. They also communicate closely with your provider for medication management.

Our diabetes education management and support program includes group classes and support groups as well as one-on-one consultations that teach you how to live with diabetes. All of our classes are accredited by the American Association of Diabetes Educators. Topics include:

• Understanding diabetes and its risk factors.
• Blood glucose monitoring instruction.
• Recognition of and treatments for low blood sugar symptoms.
• Eating for diabetes.
• Interpretation of blood glucose patterns and making management decisions.
• Exercise guidelines.
• Blood pressure management.
• Diabetes emergencies and sick-day management.
• Preventing long-term complications.
• Foot care guidelines.
• Stress and diabetes.
• Insulin and oral medications.

Diabetes Clinic for People With High Risk Type 2 Diabetes

In our effort to improve the lives of people living with diabetes, Sutter Medical Foundation also conducts special day clinics four times a week for those with complications or other complex medical conditions. Our diabetes educators work at the clinics with four Sutter Medical Foundation doctors who have a special interest in diabetes care.

Our clinic hours are:

• Tuesdays — 8:00 am to 1:00 pm, Roseville; 1:20 pm to 5:20 pm, Elk Grove
• Wednesdays — 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm, Roseville
• Thursdays — 8:00 am to 12:00 pm, Sacramento

Class Schedules

Diabetes Classes

Our Diabetes Self-Management Program classes are designed to help you manage your diabetes, with ideas to fit your personal lifestyle. The classes are conducted in a relaxed and caring atmosphere so that you feel comfortable asking questions about your health. Please note that classes rotate and all diabetes classes skip the third Thursday of the month if they fall on a Thursday.

Our diabetes classes are a series of four classes that last around two hours. They cover a variety of topics including an overview of diabetes, food and nutrition, medications, exercise, complications and living with diabetes. Our classes require a referral and pre-registration (which is important as our schedules do change).  

• Auburn — Every other Wednesday, 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
• Davis — Most Fridays, 2:30 pm – 4:30 pm
• Elk Grove — Fridays, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
• Fairfield — Second and fourth Thursday of the month, 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
• Jackson — Second Thursday of the month, 3:30 pm – 5:30 pm
• Natomas — Every other Tuesday, 2:30 pm – 4:30 pm
• Roseville — Thursdays, 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm; Tuesdays, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
• Sacramento — Thursdays, 2:30 pm – 4:30 pm
• Vacaville — Third Friday of the month, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
• Yuba City — First and third Monday of the month, 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Prediabetes Classes

Our two-hour prediabetes class reviews lifestyle changes you can make now to reduce your risk of Type 2 diabetes. Our schedule changes, so please call for updates.

Bariatric Support Group

All are welcome to the bariatric support group, pre- and post-surgery.

• Roseville — First Tuesday of the month, 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm at Sutter Roseville Medical Center.

For class information or to make an appointment to see a diabetes educator, please call (916) 774-8885 or toll free at (877) 899-8766.

Personalized Diabetes Care

Our team will work with you to personalize your diabetes care and prevent complications. We strive to understand your life, goals and health history, so that we can design a treatment plan based on your unique needs.

Our education centers serve people with:

• Prediabetes
• Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes
• Diabetes related pregnancy complications and gestational diabetes

We are here to help when you need us most. No matter where you are in your diabetes management, we can help guide you through:

• Diagnosis
• New health issues
• Changes in healthcare needs
• Pregnancy
• Your yearly diabetes education review

There are a number of services you can choose from, such as:

• Free support groups
• Healthy lifestyle training
• Individual and group classes
• Insulin management, glucose monitoring and insulin pump training
• Nutrition counseling
• Sweet Success program for diabetes during pregnancy

Make an Appointment

You can make an appointment today at any of the Sutter Health network diabetes education centers throughout Northern California. Bilingual education and interpretive services are available for those whose first language is not English.

Most insurance companies cover diabetes education with a doctor’s referral. Please call your insurance company to find out what your plan covers. For more information, call your local Sutter Health diabetes education center.