Diabetes Education and Counseling
Education is the first step toward managing diabetes. At Kadlec’s Diabetes Learning Center, we are committed to helping clients better understand their diabetes and learn the self-management skills and confidence needed to live full and happy lives.
Our diabetes education team of nurses and dietitians offers training and education in the following areas:
- Understanding the diagnosis and treatment of all types of diabetes
- Understanding complications, prevention and treatment
- Balancing medication, exercise and meal planning for blood glucose control
- Using oral medication, injectable medications and insulin effectively and safely
- Using diabetes management tools such as:
- Home glucose monitoring and meters
- Insulin pump therapy
- Continuous glucose monitors
- Pre-pregnancy and pregnancy counseling
- Managing sick days to avoid diabetic ketoacidosis
- Available community resources
- Life-time self-management skills through ongoing education
Our registered dietitians provide the support you need to manage nutrition-related health problems or to make food choices that promote wellness and prevent chronic disease. Nutrition counseling considers your personal preferences and lifestyle constraints to give you choices that you can live with.
- Nutrition counseling is provided for all ages in the following areas:
- Weight management
- Cardiovascular disease
- Diabetes and prediabetes
- Hypertension
- Eating disorders (anorexia, bulimia, binge eating)
- Gastrointestinal disorders
- Kidney disease
- Hypoglycemia
- CancerDesign
- Prenatal nutrition
- Malnutrition
- Gluten intolerance/celiac disease
A physician’s referral is required for insurance coverage. Check with your carrier to learn what your benefits are. Medicare covers nutrition counseling for diabetes and chronic kidney disease only.
Provider referral is required for all diabetes education classes. Individual counseling is an option if there is a reason why classes would not be appropriate. For more information, call 509-942-2660.
The Type 2 diabetes class is offered as a series of three weekly classes, with a follow-up class scheduled 4-6 weeks later.
- Mondays or Tuesdays: 3:30 - 5:30 p.m.
- Thursdays: 6 - 8 p.m.
- Fridays: 9 a.m. - noon (This Fast Track class takes place on two Friday mornings)
The gestational diabetes class is offered every Wednesday from 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. Follow-up classes are typically scheduled 1-2 weeks after the initial class. Follow-up classes are also scheduled on Wednesdays.
Diabetes support groups are presentations and interactive discussions on a wide range of diabetes self-care topics, led by diabetes educators or invited guest speakers.
- Type 2 diabetes support group meets the third Wednesday of the month from 5 - 6 p.m. at the Healthplex
- Type 1 diabetes support group meets quarterly
Call 509-942-2660 for more information.
CDE designates a Certified Diabetes Educator. BC-ADM designates Board Certified in Advanced Diabetes Management.
Anne has been employed as a Diabetes Educator since 1999, however, (unofficially), she has been educating people about diabetes all her life, having been diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at two years of age. She enjoys the challenge of helping people understand their diabetes and demonstrating how good life can be, despite the added challenges a chronic disease can impose. Anne has a supportive husband, three sons, 10 grandchildren and two cats. She enjoys travel, Words with Friends and serving in her church and community. Her mantra: Life is Good!
Lori is a registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator. She was born and raised in Seattle and attended Central Washington University where she obtained her bachelor’s degree in Nutrition Science. Lori started her career at Kadlec in 2003 working in the hospital for several years before transitioning to the diabetes learning center. She enjoys working with patients with diabetes, as well as those with nutritional concerns such as food allergies, pediatric and adult weight management, and kidney disease. Lori enjoys cooking, hiking with her dog, snowboarding and time spent with family. Unloading the dishwasher is her least favorite chore.
Katrina is a registered nurse and certified diabetes educator who has worked in the diabetes education department at Kadlec since 2010. She obtained her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Union College in 2005 and obtained her Master of Science in Nursing from Capella University in 2017. Katrina has had type 1 diabetes herself since 2001 and has a passion for helping others with diabetes. Her areas of specialty include insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors. She also coordinates the TrialNet Type 1 Diabetes Pathway to Prevention research study at Kadlec.
Nadine is a Clinical Dietitian and Registered Nurse at Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland, Washington. She earned a degree in Food Science and Nutrition from Utah State University in 1993, after which she achieved extra certifications as a Diabetes Educator and then in adult weight management. Nadine graduated with her nursing degree from Washington State University in May 2016. The majority of her 24-year career has been spent focused on hospital outpatient nutrition therapy. Besides diabetes and eating disorders, her other specialties include kidney disease, pediatric and adult weight management, and heart disease. In addition, she often works with people who have celiac disease, food allergies and any other nutrition-related problem. She is also bilingual Spanish. Nadine is married. She has two children, four step-children and eight grandchildren. She enjoys cycling and playing the piano.
Jane has been educating people about their diabetes since 1996 while employed by the Tri Cities’ first endocrinologist. She found she loved educating those with diabetes and helping make a difference in their lives. She has been employed at the Kadlec Diabetes Learning Center since 1999. She enjoys working with all age groups, from the newly diagnosed with diabetes to those with insulin pumps. A special joy is helping mothers with gestational diabetes and pre-existing diabetes have happy outcomes.
Carrie received her BS in Food Science/Human Nutrition and MS in Human Nutrition from Washington State University. Early on in her career Carrie knew that working in diabetes education was the right choice for her. She became a certified diabetes educator in 1990. Carrie later achieved board certification in advanced diabetes management, just three years after the credential was launched. Carrie has a wide range of experience in diabetes and nutrition. Carrie has authored peer-reviewed journal articles, textbook chapters and a book, “Idiot’s Guides: Overcoming Type 2 Diabetes.” She is an active volunteer leader, serving on the Board of Directors of the American Association of Diabetes Educators, and has held many leadership positions for Diabetes Care and Education Practice Group (DCE) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Carrie was recognized as Diabetes Educator of the Year by DCE in 2013.
Caitlin is a Richland native, born and raised. She graduated from Columbia Basin College with her associate’s degree in Nursing and has worked as an RN in a variety of specialties, including neuro-trauma, cardiac, wound care, and diabetes education. In 2017, Caitlin received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Oregon Health and Science University. With a family a history of type 2 diabetes, Caitlin is passionate about educating and helping individuals learn how to better understand as well as manage their diabetes within their own lives. In her spare time, Caitlin enjoys horseback riding, reading a good book and walking her golden retriever Brody.
- Christina Burrows, RN
- Amy Hegarty, RD, MPH, CDE
For information on Providence and Kadlec diabetes research and clinical trials, call 509-783-4637 or visit our clinical research site.