Diabetes Care Center

812.353.9258
225 West Dodds St, Bloomington (Star Center)

Diabetes affects nearly 21 million people in the U.S., or seven percent of the population.  While more than 14 million of those with diabetes know they have the disease, there are more than 6 million who are unaware they have diabetes.

When a person has diabetes, the body either does not produce insulin or cannot use insulin correctly.  Diabetes is diagnosed when fasting blood sugar is over 125 mg/dL.  Once diagnosed with diabetes, the risk for developing other diseases, such as heart disease, increases significantly if blood sugar levels remain elevated.

At Bloomington Hospital’s Diabetes Care Center, skilled diabetes educators, dietitians and other professionals work with clients to learn about and manage the disease.

Services offered at the center include:

• Comprehensive Diabetes Education
• "Staying on Track" gatherings
• Diabetes Prevention Program
• Insulin initiation and regulation 
• Insulin pump education 
• Gestational diabetes classes 

“We know that keeping diabetes under control by maintaining near normal blood sugar levels, along with appropriate blood pressure and cholesterol levels, are keys to helping our patients prevent long-term complications,” says Barb Murray, RD, CDE, a dietitian at the Center.  “Helping our patients understand how they can make lifestyle changes, such as eating smaller portions and incorporating exercise into their daily lives, is what we do everyday.”

Bloomington Hospital's Diabetes Care Center provides outpatient clinical and educational services to teach adults, children, and adolescents how to manage their diabetes. People with diabetes can visit the Center to learn how to achieve better blood sugar control and receive one-on-one or group education with a diabetes nurse educator and clinical dietitian.

The Diabetes Care Center also offers "Mastering Your Diabetes" self-management classes several times a month. A certified diabetes educator, clinical dietitian, exercise physiotherapist, and pharmacist instruct these classes.

Our self-management education program originally received recognition from the American Diabetes Association (ADA) in September 1999. The program has been awarded recognition status by the ADA through September 2011. This can assure you that the Diabetes Care Center offers a high quality, comprehensive program that meets nationally established standards.

A physician's referral is required for all services in order to bill insurance. The Diabetes Care Center is located at the Star Center, 225 block of West Dodds Street. Appointments are available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For a map and directions to the Diabetes Care Center, click here.

The cost for services varies and can be covered by various insurance plans. Medicare will pay 80 percent if you have met the deductible.

"Staying on Track" Gatherings
These gatherings provide support and information for people with diabetes. They meet on the first Monday of every month at 7:00 pm in the Diabetes Care Center, Star Center, 225 block of West Dodds Street. There is no cost, and no registration is required. For more information, call 812-353-9258.

Diabetes Prevention Program/Pre-diabetes
Pre-diabetes means that your blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but are not high enough to be called diabetes. By joining Bloomington Hospital's pre-diabetes class you can take the first step toward preventing diabetes and living a longer, healthier life. If you have Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS) levels greater than 100 mg/dl, but less than 126mg/dl, this one-time class is for you. Confirm your FBS levels with your physician and ask for a physician's order for this class. If you are uncertain if blood sugar levels are an issue for you, please use our Events Calendar to find out about free, monthly blood sugar testing offered by Bloomington Hospital at the College Mall.

All class members receive a FREE glucose meter with instructions for its use, as well as a review of the pre-diabetes diagnosis, risk factors and lifestyle modification. Classes are offered two Wednesday evenings each month, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., and one follow-up session is also provided to track progress. Total cost for this program is $40.