Diabetes Education classes...

[Hammer]

As I mentioned in another thread, my doctor won't prescribe more that 3 test strips a day. He says that I need to take a diabetes education class at the local hospital instead. I just called the hospital to find out about the class. They told me the one thing that I needed to hear to make me decide to not take the class. It costs $540!:eek:

Has anyone taken one of these classes? I honestly feel that there isn't anything they could possibly teach me for $540 that I haven't already learned from these forums. While there is a small possibility that my insurance might cover it, I still don't think it's worth the money.

Anyone ever tried one of these classes?

[Holly]

We took ours at a local Diabetic Education Center in Toronto. It involved three (two hour) sessions over six weeks - with a dietitian and a nurse. You could bring family/friend with you. There were four new diabetics at our class so things were pretty much individualized. At the end - none of us had blood work that hadn't been good - so we all graduated. There was a one time ten dollar "material fee". The binder that they gave you filled with information was worth it. For that fee - we can also access many of the additional life-style sessions etc that they have ranging from exercise class to actual grocery shopping with a dietitian.

[Scrabblechick]

I felt like I learned a lot at my class, but my insurance covered it.

I personally feel a diabetes education class is best for those who know very little about this disease to start with, and to help them become oriented with the disease, as well as with the lifestyle changes they will want to make.

I knew a LOT about the D, since my dad had it, but hearing about the latest research and having an instructor who was a long term Type 1.5 who hadn't had any complications was a ray of hope. I needed it mentally. I had been DX about a month and was so depressed I cried all the time. The class helped me come to terms with the disease and gave me hope.

I think it's a very personal decision, and one you make based on your individual needs.

[fgummett]

I was lucky... within about 6 weeks of Dx I was sent on a 2 day course at a local Diabetes Management Centre... (http://www.diabetescareprogram.ns.ca/diabcentres.asp)no cost to me or insurance. It put me straight as pretty much the first thing they said was, "Diabetes is a Serious Disease!" Fear is a great short-term motivator but you need to move beyond that to establish good control. Being a geek I naturally reached for the interweb and found it to be a fountain of knowledge; in particular, sites by David Mendosa... (http://www.mendosa.com/index.html) and Dr Ian Blumer... (http://www.ianblumer.com/)

I just wish I had found DF back then :(

[Tinki]

When I was first DX'd the emergancey room refered me to our Diabetic Clinic here. I highly recommend a diabetes education center/clinic. The 1 on 1 counseling helped some. But the nutritionist was a true God send. She didn't give me some generic, one size fits all eatting plan. She taught me how to read lables and showed me portion sizes using "real" food, it was made of rubber...LOL She then asked me my favorite foods and what foods my whole family ate and how I ate. She then took that information and made a plan tailored to me and my family. Personnaly, I highly recommend it. Even though my mom and dad have diabeties I still learned tons.

Yeah, $540 is a lot and I know we couldn't afford that. I got lucky and my insureance covered mine. However, my clinic has a "charity care" fund. They will bust their butts to help anyone get funding to cover the cost. Check and see if your class has a help with funding program.

[Petruchio]

I have been a T2 for 2 years now. I just signed up for a D Class (3 - 2 hour sessions) at the Hospital. My PCP gave the Order for it after I insisted. He thinks that I know more just from what I learned here at DF than what the class will teach me.

HOWEVER . . . In 2 years I have had NO (ZERO, ZIP, NADA) formal training on how to live with the big D. My numbers are not in as tight of control as I want and I will do EVERYTHING I can to get them there. My insurance will pay 100% of all training so I am going to do it. My PCP has not been as responsive as I want so I have set an appointment with an Endo (who is a Diabetic himself). If a Dr. is not willing to listen to me and work with me, I will fire them in a flash.

[pdxdennisj]

Over the years I have attended two classes - both were free and worthwhile.

[jerseygirl]

Hi...try $900.00 for 3 days of classes and my insurance does not pay because I am pre d..go figure

[xMenace]

As I mentioned in another thread, my doctor won't prescribe more that 3 test strips a day. He says that I need to take a diabetes education class at the local hospital instead.

I think your doctor needs the course, not you.

You're on Lantus. Have you had any lows yet? Are you stable? Do you know how you react to most foods? Find a new doctor!


Honestly, I think we need a few under-stripped diabetics to collapse in a mall due to hypos so we can sue some of these damb-*** doctors.

---

I attened one about 20 years ago to help me with my high sugars. I learned nothing important. You're not guaranteed to learn all you need here; it may be useful.

[Hammer]

I think my doctor's advice has a warped sense of logic to it. His idea is that if you know the right way to eat, then you won't need to test as much. To me, that's like saying that if you take a course in auto mechanics, you won't need to take your car in as often since knowing how your car should run, anything that doesn't sound right or feel right you'll be able to detect, so why take the car in if you don't hear or feel anything strange.

I figured I'll throw it in his face the next time I'm in his office by concocting this story......When he asks me how I'm doing on the meds, I'm going to tell him that I guess I'm doing okay, but on numerous occasions when I haven't been able to eat when I wanted (like when I'm mowing the lawn, which is a two hour job, or washing my cars), I think I went hypo (even though I never have) because I got real shaky and had trouble walking and trying to concentrate. I somehow managed to make it to the kitchen to eat a piece of fruit. I wanted to test my BG but I couldn't because I didn't have enough strips, since you don't think I need more than three a day.

If he should say, "well you should have just used a strip anyway, even if it made you short for the next day." To which I'll reply, "that's what I've been doing each time I've gotten shaky, but as it is now, I'm going to have to go for 3 days with no strips, and I didn't want to make it 4 days, so I didn't test."

Maybe that will rattle him enough to give me more strips.:D

[Phonelady61]

You know I hate to say this but your dr could be getting a kickback or a percentage of what they make and he might be getting some kind of bennies from sending ppl to those classes . I would never pay 540 for d e class that is just ridiculous . I mean I bet you your insurance company has a hand in it too . the medical conspiracy in this country is something else . I however agree with you and yes I have attended these classes and by the end of them i was totally bored because they go over the same old things . My advice to you is to find yourself another dr . good luck .

[Alice]

Those high priced diabetes classes are a rip-off...call your local health department and see when they are scheduling the next classes...or a large public hospital.

At most, $30-$50...maybe up to $100 for a series...

Diabetes should not be turned into a profit center. I know we've already crossed that line...but I'd resist this one.

You'd be better off buying some good books and learning on your own...

[Staceyy]

When I was first diagnosed, I didn't know my insurance would pay for the test strips so I would buy them over the counter at Walmart in the pharmacy section. They were expensive though at $1.00 per strip in a container of 25.

Stacey
The Diabetic Pastry Chef (http://www.diabeticpastrychef.com)

[notme]

You know Hammer, I would definitely check with your insurance company and see if it is covered. I went to a class a few years back and learned quite a bit. Mine was also covered by insurance.

Then check with your insurance company for a list of new doctors. ;)

[owlyn]

Two things:

1. You have a case of NND. Need New Doctor. Get one.
2. You can learn more here, and it will be accurate. Some classes are good, others are worse than bad, as the information is wrong. Save your money and ask questions here. You will be able to teach the class.

[volleyball]

I went to a set of classes over 6 weeks shortly after my diagnosis. Because of them I purposely lost no weight and still improve my numbers dramatically. The people were really nice but they were just teaching what they were told. I was there most frustrating student but the only one with a clue. One guy in one breath drove an overweight fuel truck saying he did not have time in the day to eat right and test and then in the next said how he did twice the work of the younger guys. I suggester he cut back to 50 % more and take the time to test. I wonder if he is still alive. I heard people who had it ten years and yet knew nothing. The class was a waste for everyone IMO.

[Hammer]

The Gastroenterologist's office called to tell me I have a small amount of yeast in my digestive system, so I have to take something called Fluconazole for 7 days. I'm reading the fact sheet that Wal-Mart gives you with every prescription, and it cracks me up when I read about the precautions and side effects. They always use capital letters when they want to grab your attention to something.

It's as if they're saying, "WAIT! Taking this medication can cause DEATH! Or possibly even more serious side effects like a FATAL HANG NAIL! Oh wait, it's just aspirin....even so, if you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately....An uncontrollable urge to watch Gilligan's Island.....if you're a woman, the ability to drive a car without using a cell phone.....if you're a man, being able to let your wife have the remote....or if you feel happy at your workplace. These are symptoms of a serious condition.":D

Sorry, I got sidetracked there. Back to the education classes. I guess it's possible that my doctor gets a kickback on the class, but he himself never actually recommended that class in particular. He just said I should take a class. The other people in his office suggested this particular class, as they've heard from other patients that it's a good class.

I would think that for a newly diagnosed diabetes patient, the class would be good, since they have no idea what to expect. The class is for 8 weeks, and it's 2 hours a week. For the first class, they take you aside and find out what your needs are on an individual basis. The thing is, having been here, and having studied nutrition on my own many years ago, plus being a bodybuilder for 10 years, I know what my body needs. That's not saying I might have missed something, but being here has helped me fill in the holes, so I think that I know everything I need to know.

Yes, I still might come up with questions, but for $540 I think I can find the answers somewhere else. My insurance might pay for it, but I don't want to chance it. My insurance has shafted me so many times by saying that something was covered, only to find out after I had used the service, that they didn't cover it and I had to pay for it.

[Alice]

I think most likely they are hoping to collect insurance money...if the market was based on out-of-pocket...their seats would be empty.

I have excellent insurance and I still say "no" to many procedures that are recommended to me just because someone in the doctors office commented "but your insurance will pay for it..."

We have to understand that "WE" are the insurance companies...we all pay.