UPMC Endocrinology Locations in West Central Pa.

If you have diabetes, thyroid problems, or a hormone disorder, we can help. UPMC's doctors diagnose and treat all types of endocrine diseases.

Endocrinology Locations

Altoona

UPMC Blair Medical Associates Endocrinology
Station Medical Center
1414 9th Ave.
Altoona, PA 16601

814-946-1655

Diabetes Care and Education in West Central Pa.

Managing type 2 diabetes is a lifelong commitment. Serious long-term problems can occur when you don't control your blood sugar.

Untreated, diabetes often leads to complications that put you in the hospital, like:

• Heart disease.
• Kidney failure.
• Nerve disorders.
• Even amputations.

With diabetes, knowledge is power. That's why UPMC offers a range of inpatient and outpatient diabetes self-management education programs throughout West Central Pa.

Research shows that people who take part in these programs:

• Are more likely to take medicines as prescribed.
• Have an easier time controlling their blood glucose.
• Enjoy fuller, more active lives.

UPMC Altoona, UPMC Bedford, and UPMC Somerset employ nurses with special training in diabetic care.

In the outpatient setting, they offer:

• Support for people living with type 1, type 2, gestational, and pre-diabetes.
• Education in all areas of diabetes self-management, such as healthy eating and checking your blood sugar levels.
• One-on-one counseling.
• A group class series for people with type 2 diabetes (some locations).
• Support groups for people with diabetes and their caregivers (some locations).

Contact your health insurance to see if they cover diabetes self-management programs.

Medicare and most other health plans — within the first year after a diabetes diagnosis — cover:

• Two hours of one-on-one counseling.
• Eight hours of group classes.

Ongoing coverage after the first year can vary by health plan.

Altoona

Diabetes Self-Management, Education, and Support Class
UPMC Altoona
620 Howard Ave., 4th Floor, Cafeteria Dining Room B
Altoona, PA 16601

814-889-2487

The program is a series of six, 1.5-hour classes, totaling 10 hours of diabetes education. We typically offer it four times each year.

Please call for dates and times. Due to limited class size, we require you to sign up. Your doctor doesn't need to refer you to take part in classes.

Cost is $20 for six sessions.

Also, dietitians at UPMC Altoona offer outpatient medical nutrition therapy for people with diabetes. Ask your doctor to refer you for this service.

Everett

UPMC Bedford Diabetes Education Program
UPMC Bedford
10455 Lincoln Hwy.
Everett, PA 15537

814-623-3715

UPMC Bedford offers diabetes self-management classes, both in-person and via video visits.

An on-site dietitian also offers diabetes-focused nutrition support. Call 814-264-4328.

UPMC Primary Care
300 N. Spring St.
Everett, PA 15537

814-652-5133, option 4

This practice has a nurse practitioner certified in diabetes care and education and insulin pump training.

She teaches people with diabetes how they can improve their health through:

• Diet and lifestyle changes.
• Medication management.
• New and emerging trends and technologies for diabetes care.

Somerset

The Diabetes Education Center at UPMC Somerset
UPMC Somerset
225 S. Center Ave.
Somerset, PA 15501

814-443-5744

Diabetes services at UPMC Somerset include:

• One-on-one counseling.
• A self-management group class series.
• A support group on the second Wednesday of every month from 6 to 7 p.m.
• A full-time registered dietitian.