Diabetes specialists in southwest Virginia

Receiving a diabetes diagnosis means yielding to a lifelong commitment to a healthy lifestyle. At LewisGale Regional Health System, our physicians are here to offer ongoing diabetes care to patients throughout southwest Virginia. We provide you with the tools, motivation and compassionate care you need to achieve your best health.

To learn about diabetes care at LewisGale Regional Health System, contact our Consult-A-Nurse® team at (877) 242-2362.

When you choose LewisGale Regional Health System, you are not left alone to manage your diabetes. Our caring and knowledgeable team helps you develop a specific plan to keep your blood glucose levels as close to normal as possible. Our goal is to give you the skills and knowledge to manage all aspects of your diabetes and improve your overall health.

Types of diabetes we treat

LewisGale Regional Health System's Diabetes Centers care for individuals with:

  • Pre-diabetes—As its name suggests, pre-diabetes occurs when blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not high enough to indicate a Type 2 diabetes diagnosis.
  • Type 1 diabetes—This type of diabetes occurs when the pancreas produces too little or no insulin at all.
  • Type 2 diabetes—Also called adult-onset diabetes, this condition occurs either when the body does not produce enough insulin or it becomes resistant to insulin.
  • Gestational diabetes—Gestational diabetes develops during pregnancy and causes high blood pressure, which can affect the health of both you and your child.

Diabetic treatment

How endocrinology departments and Diabetes Centers collaborate to offer the following services to patients with diabetes:

  • Diagnosis and medical supervision by experienced providers
  • Nutritional services, including on-site counseling with a registered dietitian and medical nutrition therapy
  • Diabetes self-management classes, helping you learn the skills to manage and prevent complications
  • Advanced wound care for diabetic wounds, including hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT)
  • Diabetes support groups

Self-management training

Our team of healthcare professionals includes diabetes nurse educators and registered dietitians who are certified diabetes educators. This means we not only have experience working alongside individuals with diabetes, but we hold ourselves to a rigorous standard of expertise in diabetes education.

Our programs are recognized by the American Diabetes Association for meeting the national standards for diabetes self-management education. Your care will be managed using the most up-to-date knowledge and effective treatment plans.

Our Center for Diabetes and Medical Nutrition Therapy offers advanced self-management training, including:

  • Monitoring your blood pressure
  • Medication
  • Exercise
  • Nutrition
  • Preventing disease complications

Your first visit

During your first visit at a LewisGale Regional Health System facility, a diabetes educator will meet with you to identify your specific needs and tailor a lifestyle plan to fit those needs. We will discuss any questions you may have, teach you the basics of diabetes care and nutrition and help you develop a plan for managing your diabetes and staying healthy.

We want to be as helpful as possible in addressing your needs and giving you the tools you need for success. We encourage all patients to attend classes or a support group at one of our affiliated facilities.

Diabetes education

Expertise and ongoing support matters when it comes to managing your diabetes. You will find that our diabetes team at LewisGale Regional Health System has both the compassionate care and expert knowledge you need.

We offer individual counseling sessions, small classes and support groups on a wide variety of diabetes topics, including medical-based and practical lifestyle guidance.

Diabetes support groups and classes

We offer two free diabetes support groups that meet monthly at LewisGale Hospital Pulaski and LewisGale Hospital Montgomery. Our support groups are open to anyone impacted by diabetes and their loved ones. Registration is not required.

To find a support group that is right for you, please call our Consult-A-Nurse® team at (877) 242-2362.

Our diabetes care classes are small to accommodate individual needs and typically last two to three hours. We encourage patients to attend and bring a family member or support person. We cover topics such as:

  • Types and causes of diabetes
  • Meal planning and nutrition
  • Reading food labels
  • Exercise guidelines
  • Diabetes medication
  • Reducing the risk of complications
  • Goal setting and problem-solving
  • Sick day guidelines
  • Pregnancy and diabetes
  • Stress management