Use this together with the monthly Class Schedule to plan your participation in the course. It is recommended that the first class you attend is Diabetes Fundamentals which is scheduled every Saturday morning. After that, each of the remaining nine 90-minute classess will be conducted twice during the course. We ask that you please call (804) XXX-XXXX to register by 5 PM on the preceding Thursday for a class.

DIABETES FUNDAMENTALS: In this 90 minute class participants will be given an overview of some of the key information about diabetes, including, the types of diabetes and their treatments, the goals of treatment, diabetes emergencies and their treatments, and how to use the Insights For Health Reach Your Goals - Diabetes website. This sets the stage for the rest of the classes.

ASSOCIATIONS & COMPLICATIONS: This class will discuss the common conditions that are associated with diabetes as well as some of the more common complications of the disease. Included will be information about obesity and the metabolic syndrome.

DIET: Adherence to a well-balanced, portion-controlled diet is fundamental to diabetes control. This class will discuss essential elements of that diet that will help control weight, cholesterol and the glucose levels in the body.

MEDICATION & EXERCISE: This class will discus the medications used in attaining diabetes control, including insulin and the oral medicines. A discussion of exercise is also included since it has effects similar to insuilin on blood sugar levels.

GOALS TO CONTROL: In order to successfully manage a chronic condition like diabetes, you need to know what goals you need to focus on reaching. This class provides that information as well as the positive impact of hitting those targets.

SELF-MANAGEMENT: Successful management of diabetes is the responsibility of the individual with diabetes. This class will provide the practical information for living with diabetes. The participants will learn about the guidelines for diabetes care, including recommended testing and strategies to improve the working relationship with the treating physician.

MACROVASCULAR COMPLICATIONS: This class looks at the complications that can arise due to diabetes' damaging effect on the larger arteries of the body. Topics will include heart attacks, strokes, lower leg amputations as well as ways to lower the risk of these complications.

MICROVASCULAR COMPLICATIONS: In this class we will discuss the harmful effects of diabetes on the smaller arteries of the body that can cause blindness, kidney failure and abnormalities in the functioning of the nerves of the body. Ways to lower the risk of these complications will be presented.

KEEPING UP TO DATE: Knowledge in improved diabetes care continues to grow. This class will enable the participants to learn how to keep up with the current findings in the field of diabetes and assess that information in an objective way. It will help them become a more knowledgeable partner in the doctor-patient relationship.

REACHING YOUR GOALS: Successful self-management of diabetes can help the diabetic minimize the impact of the disease on their ability to participate fully in their lives. In this class we apply some of the approaches of behavior modification to learn how to set individual goals, devise strategies to reach those goals and overcome obstacles along the way.