WELCOME TO THE
DIABETES CENTER
OF EXCELLENCE

THIS IS DIABETES MANAGEMENT AT ITS BEST.
SO, YOU CAN LIVE YOUR BEST.

WHY IS DIABETES MANAGEMENT SO IMPORTANT?

If you have diabetes and don’t manage it properly, it will most likely worsen and can lead to serious, irreversible health problems. Here are just a few of the complications diabetes can lead to:
  • Heart and vascular disease that can result in a heart attack or a stroke
  • Nerve damage in your hands and feet that can cause constant pain
  • Amputation of your feet or legs because of poor blood flow
  • Eye damage and blindness
  • Hearing loss and deafness
  • Kidney damage
The good news is that we can work with you to create a diligent management plan to help keep your diabetes under control and help keep complications from occurring.

Request an Appointment.

THE DIABETES CENTER OF EXCELLENCE

CONVENIENT, PERSONAL AND READY TO HELP

Located in Worcester at UMass Memorial Medical Center and in our new location in Leominster on the campus of UMass Memorial Health – HealthAlliance-Clinton Hospital, our Diabetes Center of Excellence offers team-based, comprehensive care that puts you at the center of all we do.

OUR CARE TEAM APPROACH
 

WHAT DOES TEAM-BASED CARE MEAN?

When you become a patient of ours, an entire team of experts and specialists will be assigned to you. This team will work together and be available to help you with your diabetes-related health needs. You’ll have access to everyone and everything you need to manage your diabetes and avoid the devastating results of ignoring your condition, like heart disease, blindness and amputation.

YOUR TEAM WILL CONSIST OF:

  • A physician who specializes in diabetes
  • Nurse practitioners who provide care and ensure you get plenty of face time
  • Nutritionists to help you make good food choices
  • Diabetes educators to help you take control of your health

 

YOU CAN LOOK FORWARD TO:

  • More face time with your care providers and specialists
  • More help with specific challenges that diabetes can bring
  • More success in keeping your diabetes under control
  • More ways to help you live your healthiest life
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HOW TO BECOME A PATIENT
 

DIABETES IS RUTHLESS. THAT'S WHY TOGETHER WE'LL BE RELENTLESS IN THE PURSUIT OF YOUR HEALTH.

Want to prevent or delay diabetes? Want to keep it from defining or taking your life? Then you should be part of the Diabetes Center of Excellence. The steps for getting an appointment are easy.

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If you already have a primary care provider, ask your doctor for a referral and we will do the rest to schedule your first appointment. New patients can book online.

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If you want to call us directly for more information or help in becoming a patient, just call 855-UMASS-MD.

 

It’s that simple.

DON'T KNOW FOR SURE IF YOU HAVE DIABETES?

There are many people who have diabetes but have not yet been diagnosed. This is another reason that the disease is so dangerous and why you should receive regular checkups that can uncover diabetes in its early stages.
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RISK FACTORS FOR DIABETES

  • 45 years of age or older
  • African American, Hispanic/Latino
  • Relatives who have had diabetes
  • Being overweight
  • Not exercising regularly
  • Polycystic ovary syndrome (hormonal disorder in women)
  • High blood sugar
  • High blood pressure
  • Low HDL (the good cholesterol) or high triglycerides

SYMPTOMS OF DIABETES

There are two types of diabetes, Type 1 and Type 2, and both have ways to let you know to seek help.
 

TYPE 1 DIABETES SYMPTOMS

  • Constantly hungrier and more tired than usual. When you eat, your body converts food into a sugar called glucose that provides your cells with energy. But before your cells can use glucose, they need insulin. If you don’t make enough insulin (an effect of diabetes) and can’t absorb energy, you become consistently hungry and tired.
  • Urinating more often and staying thirsty. Diabetes can prevent your kidneys from absorbing glucose as they should. When this happens, your body makes more urine. The loss of fluids causes you to be thirsty, which again causes you to urinate … and this becomes a cycle.
  • Dry mouth and itchy skin
  • Blurred vision
     

TYPE 2 DIABETES SYMPTOMS

  • Wounds that don’t heal or are slow to heal  
  • Pain or numbness in your feet or legs
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Unexplained nausea or vomiting that persists
  • Weakness on one side of your body
  • Yeast infections, in both men and women

 

EDUCATION. THE SMART WAY TO MANAGE DIABETES.

Our diabetes education program is accredited by the American Diabetes Association and provides programs and services that teach you how to self-manage your condition.
 
  • Diabetes education workshops
  • Emotional well-being resources
  • Point-of-care hemoglobin A1C testing
  • Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM)
  • Insulin pump therapy
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