Diabetes Center for Intensive Insulin Therapy

The Mayo Clinic offers a structured, three-day outpatient class for intensive insulin therapy called the "Diabetes Unit." Intensive insulin therapy is a mode of treatment in which the primary goal is to keep blood sugars as near normal as possible. The Diabetes Control and Complications Trial showed that tight blood sugar control prevents or slows the progressive complication of diabetes that affect the eyes, kidneys, and nerves.

Intensive insulin therapy attempts to mimic a normal pancreas by using two types of insulin: long-acting (basal) insulin and rapid-acting (bolus) insulin. Rapid-acting insulin is taken specifically to cover food eaten. Brief highlights of the class:

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Insulin Pump Education

The Mayo Clinic offers a one day outpatient class on insulin pump therapy. An insulin pump is a device the size of a pager that contains a syringe reservoir filled with insulin. A small flexible tube connects the reservoir of insulin to a catheter inserted under the skin in the abdomen. The pump releases rapid-acting insulin and delivers insulin in two ways: Continuously (basal) and in bursts (bolus), to cover food eaten. An insulin dose is manually programed into the pump to cover food eaten.

Eligible insulin pump candidates need to:

• Self-monitoring blood glucose 4 times a day.
• Attended the Diabetes Unit class.
• Physically and mentally able to manage an insulin pump.
• Physically and mentally able to manage an insulin pump.
• Approval from a Mayo Clinic endocrinologist to start insulin pump therapy.

Brief highlights of class:

• Insulin pump therapy and hypoglycemia.
• Insulin sensitivity factor and correctional bolus.
• Adjustment of basal rate and bolus insulin.
• Exercise and insulin pump therapy.
• Carbohydrate counting review.
• Insulin to carb ratios.
• Follow up.

Diabetes and Pregnancy

The outcome of a diabetic pregnancy now approaches the nondiabetic state when the patient is properly managed by an obstetric/diabetology team. For the past 15 years, Mayo has utilized a multidisciplinary approach to the care of patients with gestational diabetes, working with high-risk obstetricians in Maternal Fetal Medicine. This multidisciplinary team manages patients as their primary physician or in consultation with the referring physician. Arrangements for consultations with the team can be made through the obstetric physicians.

Diabetes Self Management Program

We have offers a comprehensive diabetes self-management education program for nearly 4,000 patients and their families each year. The program is a combined outpatient and inpatient treatment and education program. Referral to the program is arranged by a Mayo Clinic physician who will first evaluate the patient's diabetes and related need for education. An endocrinologist may evaluate some patients, and a nurse specializing in diabetes may assist the endocrinologist with others. Based on the patient's condition and needs, the physician will recommend either outpatient or inpatient diabetes education.

Diabetes Education Program

The diabetes education program is based upon an individualized assessment of the patient's learning needs. Therefore, the length of time required for education varies. An individualized education plan is developed by the diabetes educator in collaboration with the patient.
Using one-to-one teaching or group classes supplemented with audiovisual and printed materials, nurse and dietitian diabetes educators provide instruction as needed in program content areas relating to: