A patient learns how to monitor her blood glucose levels.

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes Mellitus is a disorder affecting how the body uses sugars for energy. Food is broken down into a simple sugar called glucose. Insulin must be present for glucose to enter the cells and be used for energy. Diabetes occurs when the pancreas makes little or no insulin, or when the body's cells don't respond to the insulin being produced.

The result is that glucose builds up in the blood, overflowing into the urine, and the body loses its source of fuel. Diabetes is a serious disease that can lead to blindness, heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, and amputations. It is more common in African-Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, Asian Americans, American Indians, and Pacific Islanders. If you are a member of one of these ethnic groups, you need to pay special attention to the warning signs/symptoms of diabetes.

Symptoms of Diabetes 

Contact your doctor if you have any of these symptoms:

Are You at Risk?

Internet Resources

Taking Care of Yourself with Diabetes

Managing diabetes takes a combination of proper meal planning, medication, behavior change, monitoring, exercise/activity, and training. Saint Agnes Medical Center's Diabetes Treatment and Resource Center can provide training and support to help people with diabetes and their families live life to the fullest.

Although diabetes cannot be cured, it can be controlled. If you would like to make an appointment to enroll in our diabetes self management classes, please call us at (559) 450-2002.

One family member or friend may attend individual or class sessions with you at no charge. All services require physician referral.

Diabetes Self Management Training Series

This series includes a one-on-one pre-course evaluation with a diabetes educator, four weekly class sessions of two-and-a-half hours each, and a two-month post-class final visit. Class sessions include the following:

• Introduction to diabetes
• Hypoglycemia
• Self-monitoring of blood glucose (done in class)
• Basic principles of food
• Food pyramid
• Medications to treat diabetes
• Medical nutrition therapy 
• Eating out
• Diabetes complications and prevention 
• Medical identification
• Food labels/portions
• Psychosocial considerations
• Foot care
• Sugar substitutes and special foods
• Exercise and food
• Meal plan questions

When:   Morning or evening classes available. Call for class dates and times.
Where:  Saint Agnes Administrative Center at The Plaza, 1111 E. Spruce Ave.
Fee:        Call for current fees.  (Medicare covers fees according to Medicare guidelines.)
Contact: (559) 450-2002

Diabetes During Pregnancy Clinic

Pregnancy is particularly stressful for women with diabetes, who require careful monitoring. We offer a clinic with our diabetes educators (nurse, registered dietitian and physician).

When:    Appointments available Monday through Friday for initial visit, Wednesday afternoons for follow up visits.
Where:    Saint Agnes Administrative Center at The Plaza, Diabetes Treatment & Resource Center, 1111 E. Spruce Ave.
Fee:         Based on amount of time spent with staff.
Contact: (559) 450-2002

Outpatient Initiation of Insulin

Supermarket Tour

Fee:  None, but preregistration is required
Contact:  (559) 450-2002