Education Services

Diabetes Classes

The Swedish Diabetes Education Center offers a Diabetes “Steps” class series, either in-person or virtually. Please call 206-215-2440 for more information and to register for the virtual class series, or call 425-640-4395 for more information and to register for the in-person classes.

View the upcoming diabetes classes schedule

All of the classes are informative, interactive and beneficial for anyone with Type 2 diabetes. They are ideal for those who are recently diagnosed with diabetes, as well as for someone who has had it for a while and needs a refresher. They are designed to empower people with diabetes with the skills and knowledge to self-manage their condition and improve their quality of life.

All classes are taught in English; interpreters are available for individual sessions.

You will need a referral from your physician that includes clinical information about your diabetes; this will help us in billing your insurance company. Ask your physician to fax in a referral or send it electronically.

An Experienced Teaching Team

The diabetes program at the Swedish Bariatric, Metabolic and Endocrine Center is recognized by the American Diabetes Association. All providers are either Registered Nurses (RN) or Registered Dietitians (RD) who are Diabetes Care and Education Specialists, formerly called Certified Diabetes Educators.

Insurance Coverage

Commercial insurance plans vary in coverage, but most will cover diabetes education as well as nutritional counseling. Medicare and Medicaid plans cover diabetes education, but they may not cover appointments for other nutritional concerns. We strongly recommend that all patients verify their insurance coverage before registering for individual appointments or classes.

Other Diabetes Education Offerings

Prediabetes (Diabetes Prevention) classes: This class will explain how to significantly lower your risk of, or even prevent, the development of type 2 diabetes. It is taught by a diabetes educator and focuses on realistic approaches to your lifestyle, diet, and physical activity in order to lower your risks.

The class costs $20 and insurance is not billed for this class.

Register here for online classes.

If assistance is needed with registration for the Prediabetes class, please call 206-386-2502.

Additional options for comprehensive diabetes care includes individual instruction on:

  • Insulin and other injectable medications: learn how to properly give injections of insulin or other diabetes medications by syringe or with a pen, including possible side effects and how to manage them, proper handling and storage, and knowing how much to take and when it should be taken.
  • Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs): these small, wearable devices can measure a person’s blood glucose level throughout the day and night, which helps to reduce the need for finger sticks. The diabetes education team can help you with your own device, or they may be able to provide you with a CGM to help you see how you’re doing with day-to-day blood glucose management.
  • Insulin pumps: insulin pumps are medical devices that provide a steady infusion of insulin into the body and help to minimize the need for insulin injections. These visits can either help you determine if an insulin pump is right for you, or they can help you get started on your own insulin pump, with periodic check-ins to make sure that everything is working as planned.

Also see our Helpful videos