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Diabetes Education

Successfully control and manage your diabetes with our diabetes self-management program

female nurse re-assuring older female patient by holding her hand

When you’re diagnosed with diabetes, it’s easy to feel like your life will be controlled by the disease. But take heart – your life is your own, and great resources are available close to home to help you successfully manage diabetes and live your life the way you want to.

You’ll find them easily accessible at the Diabetes Self-Management Program from St. Joseph’s in Breese.

Whether you’re newly diagnosed and just beginning your journey with diabetes, struggling day to day with uncontrolled blood sugar or simply want to learn about new or different management techniques, you’ll find the answers and support you need here. The Diabetes Education team helps you with understanding your diabetes and assists you managing it through medication, diet and exercise.

The Diabetes Education program at our ministry has been recognized by the American Diabetes Association, meeting national standards as developed and tested under the National Diabetes Advisory Board. This allows Medicare to cover the cost of diabetes education and dietitian consultations for people with diabetes. Upon referral, consult your insurance provider to ask if you are covered.
Licensed dietitians on our clinical nutrition team are available to help with special diets and weight management.  We offer counseling appointments with our licensed dietitians at St. Joseph’s Breese and Highland and Holy Family Greenville. Appointments are scheduled Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
In addition to patient and family support, our Diabetes Education Team offers outreach and screening opportunities, including:
  • Safe at School programs to educate teachers and staff how to recognize and respond to high and low blood sugar issues in children,
  • Annual KidneyMobile visits to provide free kidney and diabetes screenings in conjunction with the National Kidney Foundation of Illinois,
  • Free finger sticks, low-cost A1C testing and blood glucose screening at the hospital’s Community Health Fairs offered each spring and fall,
  • Spanish interpreters providing special educational and screening opportunities to the underserved.
St. Joseph's Hospital Breese sponsors a Diabetes Support Group on the first Monday of each month. If the first Monday is a holiday, the meeting is moved to the second Monday of the month. You can also join our Facebook Support Group by searching Diabetes Support Group: Bond, Madison, and Clinton Counties.
  • Your diabetes diagnosis
  • Making healthy food choices
  • Monitoring  your blood sugar and identifying patterns
  • Potential complications from diabetes
  • Medications used to manage diabetes
  • Incorporating physical activity into your life
  • Problem solving
  • Healthy coping
  • Reducing risks factors
  • Type 1, when the body’s pancreas fails to produce insulin
  • Type 2, when the body does not make enough insulin or cannot properly use the insulin that is made
  • Gestational, when a woman develops elevated blood sugar levels during pregnancy

Diabetes and Nutrition Education Team

For more information, contact any of the members from the Diabetes Education Team.

Kayla Barnes, Registered Dietitian
618-526-5336  I  kayla.barnes@hshs.org
Fax: 618-212-9024

Angie Kruse, Registered Dietitian
618-526-5614 I  angela.kruse@hshs.org
Fax: 618-212-9024

Brooke Lipe, Registered Dietitian
618-651-2743  I  brooke.lipe@hshs.org
Fax: 618-651-2735

Lisa Ketchem, Registered Nurse
618-526-5743 | lisa.ketchem@hshs.org
Fax: 618-212-9024