Certified diabetes care and education specialists (CDCES) and registered dietitians at Ascension Saint Joseph - Joliet Diabetes and Nutrition Care in Joliet, Illinois, help manage diabetes with comprehensive education and ongoing support. Our dynamic team approach helps you control your blood sugars and reduce the risk of developing a diabetes-related health condition. Your care team focuses on you to help you improve your quality of life.
Our team delivers support for children and adults with all types of diabetes, including:
- Gestational diabetes
- Prediabetes
- Type 1 diabetes
- Type 2 diabetes
How to get started
If you have only recently been diagnosed with diabetes and have not received diabetes education, register for our comprehensive Diabetes and Nutrition Care sessions. Topics include: healthy eating, staying active, medications, problem solving, healthy coping, and reducing risks. Our program includes an appointment with a diabetes educator, three two-hour sessions in an interactive group setting and one-on-one follow-up meetings to track progress.
A doctor’s referral is needed to participate in the Ascension Saint Joseph - Joliet Diabetes and Nutrition Care program. Ask your doctor to fax a referral to 815-773-7745.
Call 815-725-7133, ext: 3520
Additional education and support options
At Ascension Saint Joseph - Joliet, your care team provides individual appointments and group classes. Ask about virtual (online) appointments and education programs. All one-on-one sessions are conducted confidentially.
- Annual education: Once you have received diabetes self-management training, your care team helps you track your progress during two one-hour sessions. During the first session, we focus on recommended changes to your treatment plan and review your progress from the previous year.. The second session is scheduled several months later to track your progress and help you fine-tune your diabetes self-management skills.
- Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM): CGM is a monitoring device that uses wireless technology to collect continuous glucose readings from a small sensor implanted under the skin. Your diabetes educator shows you how to use the device after you receive your implant. Your doctor uses CGM readings to make therapy recommendations.
- Gestational diabetes: If you are an expectant mother diagnosed with gestational diabetes, your diabetes educator can help you monitor your blood glucose and answer your questions about how diabetes can impact you and your baby’s health during pregnancy. Our registered dietitian helps you plan meals and shares tips for healthy eating during pregnancy.
- Insulin injection therapy: This one-hour session shows new patients how to select a site and inject their insulin properly.
- Support group: Our diabetes support group meets monthly to discuss various topics. We’re here to help give you the ongoing support you need to help manage your diabetes. The meetings are open to anyone interested in attending at no charge. No referral is needed to attend.
Medical nutrition therapy
Healthy eating is an important aspect of managing diabetes and other chronic conditions. Our registered dietitian can help personalize a nutrition plan that’s right for you. Medical nutritional therapy can help address a variety of conditions and individual preferences, including:
- Cancer
- Celiac disease
- Chewing or swallowing problems
- Crohn’s disease
- Diabetes mellitus
- Diverticulitis
- Failure to thrive
- Food allergies
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- Heart and vascular health
- High blood pressure
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Kidney disease
- Lipid disorders (high cholesterol and triglycerides)
- Liver disease
- Osteoporosis
- Pregnancy
- Sports nutrition
- Vegetarianism
- Weight management for children and adults
- Weight loss surgery
If you are experiencing a diabetes-related medical emergency, go to the nearest ER and call 9-1-1.
