Diabetes and nutrition services

We understand the lifelong changes diabetes can cause in your lifestyle. Our registered dietitians and registered nurses are here to help you regardless of whether you have been newly diagnosed with diabetes or another health condition.

Diabetes education

We are the oldest diabetes education program accredited by the American Diabetes Association in the state of Oregon and the only one recognized in Marion and Polk counties. Our registered dietitians and nurses are certified by the National Certification Board for Diabetes Educators in diabetes education. As a result, you receive the most up-to-date and evidence-based information as a patient.

At Salem Health, our diabetes education team offers comprehensive diabetes self-management education and supportive services that enable people with prediabetes and current diabetes to achieve their optimum health. As part of our support services, we can teach you how to use your blood sugar monitoring device, manage your medication, plan healthy meals, reduce your risk for complications and set goals for lasting change.

Our program includes:

Individual and/or class appointments
Individual assessment by a certified diabetes educator.
Follow-up coaching by a certified diabetes educator for prediabetes, type 1, type 2 and diabetes in pregnancy.

Medical nutrition therapy

For children, adolescents and adults, our registered licensed dietitians provide individualized nutrition counseling, which includes nutritional assessment, meal planning, and goal setting. They address nutritional needs such as:

Diabetes, prediabetes and gestational diabetes (including prenatal nutrition)
Digestive disorders
Heart disease, including high blood pressure and congestive heart failure
High cholesterol and/or high triglycerides
Chronic kidney disease or predialysis kidney disease
Malnutrition
Food allergies
Weight management in children and adults
Celiac disease/gluten intolerance
Plant-based nutrition

Gestational diabetes

When you get a diagnosis of gestational diabetes or are diagnosed with diabetes in pregnancy, we will schedule an appointment for you to meet with a registered nurse (RN) diabetes educator and a registered dietitian.

Meeting with an RN

During your appointment with the RN, you will talk about what causes gestational diabetes as well as how food, exercise and sometimes medication can help manage your blood sugar during pregnancy. You'll also learn how to lower risks for you — and your baby — during and after pregnancy, how to manage your blood sugar, and the follow-up care you should have.

Meeting with a registered dietitian

When you meet with the dietitian, you will discuss how to use nutrition to keep yourself and your baby healthy, how to monitor your blood sugar, and how to handle pregnancy-related nutrition issues like nausea, constipation, and food safety.