Diabetes

Education and support

• Diabetes education and support has been shown to improve health and wellness for people with diabetes.
• Diabetes education is covered by Medicare and most health insurance plans when offered through an accredited program. Programs are recognized and accredited through the American Diabetes Association and the Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists (see map below).
• Healthy Living with Diabetes is an evidence-based workshop offered by the Wisconsin Institute for Healthy Aging in English and Spanish. For more information on where Healthy Living with Diabetes is available, go to Find a Workshop | WIHA and select the “Healthy Living with Diabetes” option under the “Curriculum” tab.

Self-care videos

Wisconsin Lion's Foundation's Diabetes Educational Videos can be viewed on YouTube (below), or ordered by calling 1-877-463-6953 (toll-free)

• Protect your Vision: The Dilated Eye Exam
• The Links to Chronic Kidney Disease: Diabetes, High Blood Pressure, and Family History
• Type 1 Diabetes: Care with Confidence

These downloadable materials are available to help manage diabetes

• Diabetes Self-Care Guide, P-43081, is available in English, Spanish and Hmong for download. The guide explains how diabetes affects you and what you can do to take care of yourself. There is space in the back to keep track of your diabetes care and set health goals.
• Blood Glucose (Sugar) Log Booklet, P-00246 is available in English and Spanish. Log your blood glucose (sugar) results each day and use the results to make lifestyle changes. Share your results with your health care providers so they can make changes to your medicine if needed.
• American Heart Association's Check. Change. Control. Tracker: keep track of your blood pressure by regularly measuring it at home, and record it using the AHA tracker. It's important for you and your health care provider to track your blood pressure, since having diabetes increases your risk for heart disease.

Don't use tobacco, or get the help you need to quit. Visit the Wisconsin Tobacco Quit Line or call 800-QUIT-NOW (800-784-8669) to get free access to coaching and medication to help you quit.

Medication

There are many diabetes medications that can be used to improve glucose (sugar) levels. You and your health care provider can decide which are the best for you. Some medications can cause blood sugar levels to go too low. This can be dangerous. See the American Diabetes Association sources listed to learn about diabetes medications and how to keep yourself safe while taking them.

• Get a Handle on Diabetes Medication
• Type 2 Diabetes Medications
• Hypoglycemia (Low Blood Glucose or Sugar)

It's not uncommon for people with diabetes to need two or more medications. Some medications can be expensive. If you have concerns about medication costs, here are resources.

• Resources to Lower Your Insulin Cost
• The Disability Drug Benefits Helpline (1-800-926-4862) is a toll-free helpline operated by Disability Rights Wisconsin that helps people who have Medicare due to a disability with questions about prescription drug coverage.
• The Medigap Part D and Prescription Drug Helpline (1-855-677-2783) is a toll-free helpline operated by the Wisconsin Board on Aging and Long Term Care that answers questions from Wisconsin residents aged 60 and over about Medicare Part D and other prescription drug coverage options.
• Needy Meds: information on locating assistance programs for affording medications and health care costs.
• Partnership for Prescription Assistance: free, online resource for uninsured and underinsured individuals to find prescription medications for free or nearly free.
• Wisconsin Judicare, Inc. (1-800-472-1638) provides outreach and benefits counseling to Native American Medicare beneficiaries.

Safe Disposal of sharps and needles: It is illegal to put needles and other sharp medical items in the trash, recycling or medication collection drop boxes. If sharps are put in the trash or recycling or flushed down the toilet, they can injure sanitation workers or cause equipment problems. Therefore, it is important to properly package and dispose of all sharps.

• Managing Health Care Waste: the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources' website has information on managing health care waste for patients, clinics, schools, and others.
• Managing Household Medical Sharps: the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources website has information on correct packaging and safe disposal of medical sharps through the Wisconsin Sharps Collection Program.

Food and nutrition

Eating healthy with diabetes does not mean you have to give up your favorite foods. These resources provide tips for meal planning, grocery shopping, and diabetes-friendly recipes.

• Healthy eating tips - American Diabetes Association (ADA)
• Meal planning and recipes (also in Spanish) - Diabetes Food Hub (ADA) 
• Healthy eating tips - National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
• Consejos para una alimentación saludable (NIDDK)
• Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

Not having enough food or adequate healthy food to eat can make it difficult to be healthy with diabetes.

• Find food assistance - Wisconsin Department of Health Services
• Food Insecurity and Diabetes - ADA

Physical activity

Along with eating well and taking medicine, being physically active is an important part of managing diabetes. There are many ways to be active daily. See the resources listed for ideas that are safe and effective.

• Get Active
• Fitness

Diabetes and your health

Many parts of our body, like eyes, feet, heart, kidney, mouth, sexual and immune systems, can be affected by diabetes. Check out the sources listed to learn more about how to keep your body healthy with diabetes.

• Eye Health
• Diabetes-related Eye Disease (fact sheets available in Spanish)
• Diabetes & Your Feet
• Diabetes and Your Heart
• American Heart Association in Spanish
• Keep Your Kidneys Healthy
• National Kidney Foundation
• Oral Health
• Oral Health and Diabetes, P-00140 (PDF)
• Sexual Health
• Vaccinations
• Adult Vaccine Information

Diabetes care schedule

These guidelines show how often health checks, lab work, and other screenings are needed to keep yourself healthy with diabetes.

• Your Diabetes Care Team
• Your Diabetes Care Schedule
• Your Diabetes Care and Management Plan

Mental health and wellness

Taking care of ourselves when we have diabetes requires a lot of effort. It can lead to stress. Sometimes we may have feelings of sadness, grief, anger, and frustration. This is normal. If we have these feelings and they do not go away it is time to seek help.

• Understanding Diabetes and Mental Health
• Diabetes and Mental Health
• Mental Health: Healthy Living

Sick days and diabetes

• Planning for Sick Days
• Managing Sick Days

Diabetes and emergency situations

• Resources in Times of Disaster
• Diabetes Care During Emergencies
• Diabetes Disaster Preparedness Plan

Traveling with diabetes

• Traveling with Diabetes
• Air Travel and Diabetes

About 1 in 28 Americans under the age of 20 have diabetes. For example, in 2017–2018, the number of new cases of diabetes in children and teens was estimated at 18,200 with type 1 diabetes and 5,300 with type 2 diabetes.

Type 1 Diabetes

• What is type 1 diabetes?
• Your Journey with type 1 diabetes
• Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation

Type 2 Diabetes

• Type 2 Diabetes in Children
• Living with Type 2 Diabetes

Diabetes at school

• Managing Diabetes at School
• Help for Parents
• ADA Diabetes Medical Management Plan
• ADA Plan de Manejo Médico de la Diabetes

Diabetes camps in Wisconsin

Camps are a great way for children and teens with diabetes to meet other kids like them, build self-confidence, and learn about healthy lifestyle through education, physical activity, emotional well-being, and keeping blood sugars healthy.

• Camp Needlepoint
• Slam Dunk for Diabetes Camp
• Wisconsin Lions Diabetes Camp

The Chronic Disease Prevention Program is committed to sharing chronic disease data with Wisconsin communities.

Explore maps and data resources by topic on our Maps and Data webpage.

Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) and Diabetes Self-Management Programs (DSMP) are an essential part of care for all people with diabetes. DSMES and DSMP is the ongoing process of strengthening the knowledge, skills, and ability necessary for self-care for someone with diabetes. The Chronic Disease Prevention Program supports improved access and participation in DSMES and DSMP. DSMES and DSMP are cost-effective tools proven to improve health behaviors and health outcomes for people with diabetes. DSMES and DSMP can help people with diabetes live longer, healthier lives by preventing or delaying complications. We work with health systems through Wisconsin Collaborative for Healthcare Quality, the Wisconsin Institute for Healthy Aging, pharmacies through Community Pharmacy Enhanced Services Network Wisconsin and the Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin, Community Health Workers, county health departments and Community Based Organizations to increase access to and participation in DSMP and DSMES programs.

• Healthy Living with Diabetes is an evidence-based workshop offered by the Wisconsin Institute for Healthy Aging in English and Spanish. For more information on where Healthy Living with Diabetes is available, go to Find a Workshop | WIHA and select the “Healthy Living with Diabetes” option under the “Curriculum” tab.
• Diabetes education is covered by Medicare and most health insurance plans when offered through an accredited program. Programs are recognized and accredited through the American Diabetes Association and the Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists (see map below).

Community health workers (CHWs) are an important part of Wisconsin's public health and health care systems. CHWs are the bridge that connect people to care and resources to help them be healthy. CHWs are community members who have lived experience in overcoming barriers to access, navigating systems, and using resources in the communities they serve. The primary goal of a CHW is to improve health outcomes of people in their communities.

CHWs can be found working in many different places like health departments, community organizations, hospitals, clinics, and schools. CHWs work under different job titles, including promotores(as) de salud, community health representatives, doulas, neighborhood navigators, patient navigators, and peer educators, just to name a few

The Chronic Disease Prevention Program collaborates with partners to advance the sustainability and integration of the CHW workforce to promote equity and positive health outcomes for people in Wisconsin.

Many health care clinics and systems use electronic health records and health information technology to measure and track clinical quality measures. Our program promotes the adoption of standardized clinical quality measures to prevent and manage diabetes. Additionally, we promote the adoption of these measures to improve monitoring of health and health care disparities among populations and inform activities to eliminate them. Below are our current partnerships specific to these efforts:

• The Chronic Disease Quality Improvement Project is a collaboration between Wisconsin health plans and the Department of Health Services’ Chronic Disease Prevention Program. The project was established in 1998, with an initial focus on diabetes. Over the years, its scope expanded to include other chronic diseases and their risk factors. Members evaluate and report chronic disease prevention and health care quality measures. They also share information, population-based strategies, and evidence-based approaches to improve care.
• The Wisconsin Primary Healthcare Association (WPHCA) members support, promote, and work in Community Health Centers. Community Health Centers are community-based, patient-centered clinics working to improve the health of patients and communities facing financial, cultural, and geographical barriers to receiving high-quality affordable health care. They are also known as Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs).
• The Wisconsin Collaborative for Healthcare Quality (WCHQ) is a group of health systems and stakeholders that works on collaborative projects to improve patient outcomes, system performance, and care affordability in Wisconsin. WCHQ publicly reports electronic health record-derived performance measures to drive health care quality improvement.

The Chronic Disease Prevention Program (CDPP) works with community pharmacies in Wisconsin to increase availability of Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) and Diabetes Prevention Programs (DPPs) in the state.

• Community Pharmacy Enhanced Services Network Wisconsin (CPESN-WI) is focused on improving the health of patients by working collaboratively with other health care providers. CPESN works to improve patient health, provider outcomes and quality ratings, and promote a healthy bottom line for insurers. Working with CPESN we are improving access to diabetes education including Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support and National Diabetes Prevention Program within community pharmacies.
• Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin (PSW) is a professional organization for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in Wisconsin that offers continuing education courses, advocacy, resources, and networking opportunities. We work with the Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin and their Wisconsin Pharmacy Quality Collaborative program to engage pharmacists in educating and supporting patients with diabetes.