Proudly recognized by the American Diabetes Association since 2003!

One in every three people born today will develop diabetes during their lifetime. In Illinois, 500,000 people are diagnosed every year. Although it is a lifelong, incurable disease, careful management can slow its progression.

Learning about diabetes and following your care plan can greatly reduce your chance of developing complications. Complications can include:

• Eye problems that can lead to blindness
• Nerve damage, which can lead to infections and/or amputations
• Kidney damage, which can lead to kidney failure and dialysis
• High blood pressure, which can contribute to heart attack and strokes
• Stroke and heart disease (two out of three people with diabetes may die of heart disease or stroke)
• Skin complications and increased risk of infections
• Ketoacidosis, which are high levels of ketones that can poison the body
• Pregnancy issues (increased monitoring is necessary to prevent complications to mom and baby)

Although you feel fine, damage from complications can be taking place inside your body right now without you knowing it.

Find a diabetes education program near you

Since 2003, our Managing for Life diabetes education and self-management program has earned the American Diabetes Association Certificate of Education Recognition, an honor only the highest-quality programs receive.

We provide individual assessments and counseling in:

• Glucose monitoring;
• Basic meal planning;
• Exercise planning;
• Problem solving;
• Setting self-care goals;
• Reducing the risk of complications;
• Insulin and other injectable medication training; and
• Insulin pump and continuous glucose monitor training.

We also provide support groups, community presentations, health fairs, and individual attention for patients who need nutrition counseling for other chronic diseases and weight management.

For your convenience, we provide education at five Mercyhealth Diabetes Centers in southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois, and at Mercyhealth Rockton Avenue, Bldg. 1 in Rockford. Browse the Locations menu, or call us toll-free (866) 520-6332 for more information.