Diabetes Support

We provide healthcare, education and support services for those at-risk for diabetes and living with diabetes and their families. Any individual diagnosed with diabetes is automatically eligible to be a part of North Country HealthCare’s diabetes collaborative and diabetes care program.

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes occurs when a person has too much glucose (or sugar) in their bloodstream and not enough insulin to bring the blood sugar down to a level that is healthy for their body. Too much sugar in the blood can lead to complications such as blindness, kidney failure, nerve damage in the feet, heart attack and stroke.

There are four types of diabetes:

• Prediabetes affects 1 out of 3 adults. Without lifestyle changes (such as weight loss and physical activity), 15-30% of people with Prediabetes will develop Type 2 Diabetes within 5 years
• Type 2 Diabetes affects 1 out of 10 adults in Arizona. In type 2 Diabetes, the body either produces less insulin and/or cannot use the insulin effectively
• Type 1 Diabetes is usually diagnosed during childhood when the body cannot produce enough (or any) insulin on its own. There is no known way to prevent Type 1 Diabetes
• Gestational Diabetes is a type of diabetes that develops only during pregnancy and can be harmful to the mother and baby. Women with Gestational Diabetes are about 50% more likely to develop Type 2 Diabetes later in life

Education & Group Classes

Diabetes education and self-management empowers a person to take control of their diabetes care and needs. We provide one-on-one education, group classes, and support groups to give people the tools they need to achieve health and wellness while managing diabetes.

PreventT2 Lifestyle Change Program

PreventT2 is part of the National Diabetes Prevention Program, led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It is proven to prevent or delay type 2 diabetes. Research shows that modest behavior changes, such as making better food choices and increasing physical activity, reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 58 percent in people at high risk for developing this disease. The National Diabetes Prevention Program brings together federal agencies, community based organizations, faith-based organizations, employers, insurers, health care professionals, academia, and other stakeholders to prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes among people with prediabetes.

North Country HealthCare offers the PreventT2 lifestyle change program in a virtual format throughout the year. Visit our PreventT2 Lifestyle Change Program page to learn more. To sign up for the program, email our diabetes program coordinator.

Learn more about Prevent T2

To learn more about the program, visit www.cdc.gov/PreventT2.

Diabetic Care Services

We provide all the services recommended in the American Diabetes Association’s Standards of Care, including:

• Annual foot checks
• On-site dental services or dental referrals 
• On-site hemoglobin A1c testing
• Cholesterol monitoring
• Instruction & support in sugar testing
• Monitoring of blood pressure
• Case management
• Eye exams for diabetic retinopathy
• On-site behavioral health counseling
• Assistance to quit tobacco use

We offer a variety of educational materials and group classes throughout the year for those managing diabetes.

Topics may include:

• Hypo/Hyperglycemia management
• Skin & foot care
• Importance of physical activity
• Medical nutrition therapy
• Nutrition counseling
• Sick-day management
• Self blood-sugar monitoring
• Handling blood-sugar patterns
• Medications
• Weight loss and weight management
• Using a glucometer

Handouts, classes and groups are available in English, Spanish and online. Friends and/or family members are welcome to attend all diabetes education classes.

Call our diabetes program coordinator at 928.522.9464 for more information on attending a class or to schedule an appointment to discuss any concerns you have about living with diabetes.