Diabetes Education

Living with diabetes can raise a lot of questions—and you don’t have to sort through them alone. Diabetes Self-Management Education is a chance to slow things down, understand what’s going on in your body, and talk through what daily care can realistically look like for you.

We focus on practical, everyday guidance and work with you to find approaches that fit your lifestyle. The goal is to support steady blood sugar control and help prevent or delay long-term complications—one step at a time.

If you’re new to diabetes education, we’ll talk through things like:

• What diabetes is and how it affects your body
• Treatment and management options
• Nutrition basics and how food choices impact blood sugar
• Blood sugar targets that make sense for you—and why
• Ways to reduce the risk of high or low blood sugars
• How diabetes can change over time
• How to take diabetes medications safely

Diabetes education can also be helpful if you:

• Want support controlling or getting blood sugars back on track
• Need a refresher on diabetes management skills
• Would like to talk through treatment or medication options

Nutrition support, tailored to you

Many people with diabetes also benefit from Medical Nutrition Therapy, or MNT. This is more personalized and in-depth nutrition guidance than what’s covered in diabetes education alone. A doctor, or in some cases, a nurse practitioner, can order MNT to help you explore nutrition choices that fit your health goals and daily routine.

Who you’ll work with Diabetes education at Winona Health is provided by a registered dietitian and/or a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist. This certification reflects advanced training, experience and nationally recognized expertise in diabetes care and education.

Coverage and scheduling Most insurance plans. including Medicare, cover diabetes education when it’s ordered by your primary care provider. Coverage can vary, so checking with your insurance company is a good first step.

For Medicare recipients, coverage typically includes:

• Up to 10 hours of initial diabetes education (if you haven’t received it before)
• Two hours of follow-up education each year

After your provider recommends diabetes education, our caregivers will reach out to help schedule your visit. Appointments are held at Winona Health on the second floor of the clinic.

Caring for our community

Our diabetes and nutrition education caregivers are also active in the community, supporting health and wellness through:

• Community events and wellness fairs
• Local, community organizations
• Professional education and outreach

Theresa Hoyles RD, CDCES

I’ve been a registered dietitian for about 20 years and certified diabetes care and education specialist since 2015. I love trying foods from different cultures and a favorite food is vegetarian Indian curry. In my free time, I enjoy being active outdoors rollerblading, biking, or downhill skiing. My husband and daughters are used to me reminding them to “Make sure you eat your fruits and veggies!” That’s because I love them and want to help them stay healthy – and I want to help you, too!

Listen as Theresa Hoyles, Winona Health’s Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist, discusses diabetes and how Winona Health can help individuals manage the disease through nutrition and education.

Elizabeth Iverson RDN, LDN

I enjoy working with patients in both the hospital and clinic to help them understand how food affects their health and how they feel. That might mean helping them manage health conditions through nutrition – or helping individuals to incorporate more health-promoting eating behaviors into their lives to improve their overall well-being. In my free time, I enjoy thrifting, trying new restaurants, playing video games, and hanging out with my husband and our cats.

Cindy Olson RD, LD

I have been a registered dietitian for the past 18 years. In this time, I have enjoyed my work in both long-term care and dialysis. I have always had a strong interest in renal nutrition and have enjoyed working with patients in this capacity because there is always something new to learn! When not at work, I keep busy with my family. We enjoy hiking, biking and boating together. I also love to bake, try new restaurants, play golf, and watch sports — especially women’s college basketball and the Milwaukee Brewers.