If you or a family member has been diagnosed with diabetes,
Mercy can help with a wide range of outpatient programs and services.
Mercy's Diabetes Center offers high quality comprehensive care. Our diabetes team consists of physicians, nurse practitioners, certified diabetes educators, registered nurses, and dietitians. John Devlin, MD, is Medical Director.
Together, we have created a program to help you and your family gain the knowledge, skills and empowerment to become active participants in diabetes care.
This approach is referred to as Diabetes Self-Management Education (DSME), Diabetes Self-Management Support (DSMS), and is associated with improved self-care behavior, improved clinical outcomes, and improved quality of life.
Participants meet individually with a nurse and dietitian. An individual patient-centered educational plan is then developed, covering the following national standards for DSME content areas:
Diabetes disease process
- Healthy food choice and meal-planning
- Incorporating physical activity into lifestyle
- Utilizing medications if applicable for therapeutic effectiveness
- Monitoring blood glucose and using the results to improve control
- Preventing, detecting, and treating acute and chronic complications
- Goal setting to promote health, and problem solving for daily living
- Integrating psychosocial adjustment to daily life
- Promoting preconception care and gestational diabetes management
- Periodic reassessment and follow-up to offer continued education and support.
- Intensive diabetes management training/insulin adjustment
- Insulin pump training and management.
- Continuous glucose monitoring.
Group or individual education sessions are offered. DSME services are covered by third party insurance including Medicare and Maine Care.
If you would like more information or are interested in participating, call us at (207) 400-8500
Please note that a referral from your Primary Care Provider is required for Diabetes services.
The American Diabetes Association recognizes Mercy's Diabetes
Education Program as meeting the national standards for
Diabetes Self-Management Education.
Click here to take the Diabetes Management Risk Test
For more information about diabetes, contact:
Mercy Diabetes Center
959 Congress Street
Portland, Maine 04102
P (207) 400-8500
F (207) 400-8508