Frequently asked questions
Is there paperwork I need to fill out before my appointment?
Yes, you will be asked to complete some paperwork before your initial appointment. We can mail you these forms. They are also available on your Salem Health MyChart, or you may print them and bring the completed forms to your appointment.
How long is the appointment?
Initial appointments, whether diabetes education or medical nutrition counseling, are usually 60 to 90 minutes long. This includes your assessment, education and goal planning.
How often are the diabetes education classes held?
Four days per month. The diabetes education program classes are currently held on two Tuesdays and two Thursdays every month and we have both afternoon and evening classes available. We are always looking to meet the needs of the community, so please call to check to see if additional or weekend classes have been added.
How much does a diabetes education session cost?
We really can’t know how much your insurance will cover since there are so many different insurance plans. Most insurance companies cover up to 10 hours diabetes education or DSMES (diabetes self-management education and support) at the time of diagnosis and some amount of follow-up education every year. You may have to pay a copay or co-insurance. Call your insurance company to get details.
Does my Insurance cover medical nutrition therapy (MNT)?
If you have Medicare, MNT is covered if you have Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, obesity, or non-dialysis kidney disease. You will need a referral from a registered Medicare provider. Many other health insurances cover MNT based on your diagnosis. For non-diabetes nutrition-related conditions, such as high cholesterol, renal disease, celiac disease, call your insurance company and ask if your plan covers outpatient nutrition education or medical nutrition therapy.
How do I know if I have diabetes?
Normal fasting (before breakfast) blood sugar range is 70mg/dL to 100mg/dL. The diagnosis for diabetes is when the blood sugar (before eating or drinking anything) is 126mg/dL or greater on two different occasions.
Your primary health care provider can test your blood sugar. You may also take an oral glucose tolerance test or the hemoglobin A1C test. You can take a free risk assessment test from the American Diabetes Association.
What if I am unable to make it to my scheduled appointment?
Please let us know as soon as possible if you have an emergency and are unable to make your scheduled appointment. Call 503-814-6990 to cancel or reschedule your appointment. You may leave a voicemail after hours.
We reserve the appropriate amount of time and trained staff to provide quality assessment and education and that time is reserved exclusively for you. In order to offer that time to another client, we need as much notice as possible.
Do I have to bring anything to my diabetes education appointments?
It is important to bring your glucometer or blood sugar logs to all your diabetes appointments so that your diabetes educator can answer any questions and help you look at blood sugar patterns.