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Diabetes/Prediabetes Education

Outpatient Diabetes Education


Orange City Area Health System’s Outpatient Diabetes Education Program is proud to offer a comprehensive education program for those with diabetes, either newly diagnosed or for those patients needing extra guidance with diabetes control. In addition to individual education sessions with the diabetes care coordinator or the registered dietician, OCAHS offers the following group education services:

DSME/S Group Classes (Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support): Taught by Orange City Area Health System’s highly trained diabetes education team, these 2 hour group classes are designed for newly diagnosed diabetics or for those who are looking for a refresher course. Topics covered include: Overview of diabetes, blood glucose monitoring, carbohydrate counting, food label reading, exercise, medications, complication prevention, sick daycare, and stress management.

Classes are held monthly in the main campus education room.

A physician referral is required. Register below or by calling  712-737-5311.

The program is covered by most insurance companies, but every insurance plan is different. Check with your individual insurance plan.

Register to attend:
Register Here February 
Register Here March 
Register Here April 
Register Here May 
Register Here June 
Register Here July 
Register Here August 
Register Here September 
Register Here October 
Register Here November 
Register Here December 

Gestational Diabetes Group Classes: Orange City Area Health System’s Outpatient Diabetes Education Program offers group classes to women diagnosed with gestational diabetes. With this class, expectant mothers learn the skills for managing their blood sugar through healthy eating, increased activity, blood glucose monitoring, and stress management.

Classes are held weekly, on a flexible schedule, in the main campus education room next. Each class is 2 hours long – one hour with the registered dietician and one hour with the diabetes care coordinator. The program is covered by most insurance companies, but every insurance plan is different. Check with your individual insurance plan.
A physician’s referral is required. Register Here or call 712-737-5311.

Support Groups: In conjunction with Orange City Area Health System’s Outpatient Diabetes Education Program, OCAHS offers the following Diabetes Support Group for the community.

Sweet Talk Support Group
Held the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 11:30am.
Located in our diabetic educator’s office in the Orange City Family Medicine Clinic. (Please ask Clinic Nursing Support for directions.)
Free for all to attend, no registration needed.

If you have questions regarding our diabetes education or dates of upcoming classes, please call 712.737.5311.

Our Diabetes Care Coordinator Dee Meerdink, RN, provides a variety of classes and one-on-one education for patients and families with diabetes and pre-diabetes.