Upper Chesapeake Health

Upper Chesapeake Medical Center Campus
Pavilion II, 5th Floor
510 Upper Chesapeake Drive, Suite 510
Bel Air, Maryland 21014
443-643-3200

At the Upper Chesapeake Diabetes and Endocrine Center, we believe individuals living with diabetes can realize success in managing this disease. Our team of Endocrinologists and Certified Diabetes Educators can help you can enjoy a better quality of life and avoid serious health complications through careful planning, monitoring, and management.

Our services are comprehensive and yet flexible enough so you can make choices that best suit your lifestyle. We recognize that each individual diagnosed with diabetes has unique challenges. Let us guide you on a course that celebrates your successes and addresses your challenges.

A team approach to managing diabetes has been proven to achieve the best results. You are a vital member of the team. At your side is the Upper Chesapeake Diabetes and Endocrine Center team of Endocrinologists and Certified Diabetes Educators (registered nurses and dietitians), your Primary Care Physician, and other appropriate specialists. They offer you support, treatment and education.

You and your Primary Care Physician are important members of the team as are other appropriate specialists such as the podiatrist, ophthalmologist, dentist, and other healthcare providers that you see. Together, we help you manage your diabetes successfully and avoid the complications of diabetes, such as heart disease, stroke, blindness, and kidney failure.

At the Diabetes and Endocrine Center, we utilize the latest in medicine and technology, including insulin
pumps and continuous glucose sensors to help individuals manage their diabetes to the best of their abilities.

You can access our physician management program or just the diabetes education programs with a referral from your physician.

Our board certified endocrinologists are trained to diagnose and treat diabetes and endocrine problems. They take care of many conditions including diabetes, thyroid diseases, metabolic disorders, menopause, and osteoporosis.

We recommend that anyone who has been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes as well as individuals who have difficulty with complications of diabetes, disease management or have other endocrine diseases (i.e., thyroid disease, Cushing's Syndrome, Grave's disease, pituitary disease) be seen by an endocrinologist.

Our Certified Diabetes Educators (CDE) are registered nurses and registered dietitians who focus on assisting people with diabetes through behavioral change, which in turn, leads to better diabetes control, improved health, and delay or prevention of complications. Our CDE's apply in-depth knowledge, communication, and counseling skills to provide diabetes self-management education.

We recommend that all individuals diagnosed with diabetes see an educator. Studies show that people who have had comprehensive diabetes education are better able to manage their diabetes, and are better able to prevent the complications of diabetes.

Diabetes Self-Management Education in the 21st century focuses on helping people with diabetes make informed self-care management choices. The best results occur when the education is tailored to the individual's needs and preferences, includes follow-up support, and counseling for psychosocial issues. These three elements are among the goals of the Upper Chesapeake Health Diabetes and Endocrine Center program.

Anyone who has complications of diabetes or who is not meeting the ABC target levels for diabetes management as listed below would also benefit from diabetes education:

The individual is assessed and managed by the Diabetes Management Team consisting of the Endocrinologist, Nurse Practitioner, and Certified Registered Diabetes Educators (registered nurses and dieticians).

Diabetes education, also known as diabetes self-management training (DSMT), is a collaborative process through which people with diabetes gain the knowledge and skills needed to modify behavior and successfully self-manage the disease and its related conditions. The education process helps individuals achieve optimal health status, obtain a better quality of life, and reduce the need for costly health care.

At our Center, individuals are assessed and educated by the RN Certified Diabetes Educators (CDE). An individualized education plan for Diabetes Self Management Education is established, and education is provided over subsequent visits. The individual's progress and behavioral goals are regularly communicated to the referring primary care physician.

Individuals referred for an endocrine consult are evaluated by the endocrinologist and a plan of care is established and communicated with the referring physician.

Newly Diagnosed
During these visits, basic diabetes physiology, the natural history of diabetes and diabetes self-management are explained with emphasis on meal planning, exercise, and medication if applicable.
Problem-Solving Referral
These educational visits focus on determining the challenges you are facing with achieving optimal control (A1c under 7%). The AADE-7 Self-Care BehaviorsTM and appropriate skills are reviewed. Your understanding of diabetes is assessed, your medications are monitored and your adherence to your medication is discussed.
Insulin Administration Referral
The purpose of these visits is to initiate insulin treatment to improve control. You should have a beginning understanding of diabetes physiology, monitoring, and meal planning before you are competent to use insulin safely and effectively.
Insulin Pump Therapy
Insulin pump therapy is appropriate for any individuals utilizing an insulin pump to improve glucose control. Successful pump therapy requires highly motivated individuals who have well established diabetes self-care behaviors including problem solving skills and frequent monitoring habits. Primary care physicians can refer you for insulin pump therapy education only, while they maintain responsibility of dose calculations and adjustment, or your primary care physician may refer you to our Center and our diabetes team will evaluate, initiate, and manage your insulin pump therapy.
Yearly Review and Reassessment of Diabetes Knowledge, Skill and Behaviors
In order to support you and assist you in attaining behaviors for effective management of diabetes, the American Diabetes Association recommends annual visits to assess diabetes understanding and self-management behaviors and skills to assist in problem solving issues of control.
Diabetes Self Management Training (DSMT) (term for diabetes education for Medicare Beneficiaries)
DSMT for Medicare beneficiaries must be performed in a group format unless the referring primary care physician identifies that the you are unable to function in a group setting due to physical, emotional or cognitive reasons. Each Medicare beneficiary referred for DSMT has an initial 1 hour individual assessment by a CDE and will be scheduled for the next class series. Each class series consists of three classes one week apart with a final class in three months.
Gestational diabetes (GDM) or diabetes complicated by pregnancy
You can be referred to diabetes team management or for education only.
GDM Education Program
If you are referred for education only, you will see both the RN/Certified Diabetes Educator, as well as the Certified Registered Dietitian. A glucose meter to monitor blood glucose will be provided to you during your first visit.
Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM)

You can be referred for CGM to identify problems in glucose control, hypoglycemia, and hyperglycemia. CGM is an excellent tool to increase your understanding of the inter-relationship of food, activity, and insulin. It allows you to see, in real time, the effect of food choices, exercise and/or medication doses on glucose, and is an effective tool for behavior change.

To learn more about the services at the Upper Chesapeake Diabetes and Endocrine Center, please call and talk to one of our Certified Diabetes Educators at 443-643-3200. For more information on the University of Maryland Center for Diabetes and Endocrinology and other programs throughout the State of Maryland, visit the main website at: http://www.umm.edu/diabetes/index.htm