Diabetes afflicts more than 25 million in this country, and 250 million worlwide.  Without intervention, 50 million Americans and up to 380 million people globally could be affected within 20 years.  This growing epidemic is the seventh leading cause of death in New Hampshire and the state's leading cause of many related illnesses and medical complications.

Total Diabetes Care
The Joslin Diabetes Center Affiliate at Frisbie Memorial Hospital is the regions premier choice for treating diabetes and its related complications.  Based on a strong tradition that began more than 100 years ago at is headquarters in Boston, Massachusetts, the Harvard-affiliated Joslin Diabetes Center is one of the preeminent global leaders in clinical treatment, education, and research.  This tradition brings a partnership that is committed to providing comprehensive and personalized diabetes care designed to improve the lives of patients and their families.

The Only Care of its Kind in the Region
Frisbie Memorial Hospital is the only hospital in Southeastern New Hampshire to offer a partnership with the world-leader in diabetes care.  As a result, area residents now have convenient access to Joslin-based expertise in total diabetes treatment.  Frisbie's relationship with Joslin allows patients to benefit from the most recent and exciting discoveries made by Joslin scientists and researchers, including identifying strategies that may prevent diabetes and utilizing proven methods in successfully treating its complications.

Programs and Services to Manage Your Illness
Because diabetes has no known cure, knowing how to control the diseae is essential to remaining healthy.  Diabetes experts agree that education is a key component in the prevention and treatment of diabetes, and programs should be tailored to meet the needs of the individual, the family, health care providers and interested members of the community.

Experts in Treating Related Complications
To better meet the complex health care needs of its patients, the diabetes team at Frisbie Memorial Hospital includes a designated endocrinologist, Matthew Kamil, MD a board certified physician who diagnoses and treats disorders that affect the amount of glucose in the blood.  Because diabetes is a disease that can lead to additional medical complications, the clinical team at Frisbie relies on the skills of its experienced specialists to care for related conditions such as heart disease, thyroid disorders, and vision and foot care. 

Supporting this experienced medical team is the hospital's on-site dietitians and nurses specifically trained to help people with or at risk for diabetes gain the knowledge and problem solving skills needed to manage the disease by focusing on self-care behaviors, such as healthy eating, staying active, and monitoring blood glucose.

Information groups and educational classes are held at the Joslin Diabetes Center Affiliate throughout the year to help diabetes patients take active control of managing their disease. Please review our current class listing here.

Information groups and educational classes include:

• Medication management
• Insulin pump instruction 
• Cholesterol monitoring
• Nutrition
• Physical activity
• Blood sugar monitoring
• Problem solving
• Foot care

The goal of diabetes education is to help patients better understand the nature of their illness and learn how to make any necessary changes in health habits as soon as possible.  The diabetes education program is recognized by the American Diabetes Association and follows the national standards for Diabetes Self-Management Education.

Successfully managing diabetes means living a healthy lifestyle that includes a proper diet, weight management, physical activity, and no smoking. Physician referrals are required for individual sessions or group classes. You may download the physician referral form here.

Throughout the year, we sponsor:

• Diabetes foot clinics
• Diabetes information groups
• Diabetes group class
• Individual one-on-one education

Information on the Outpatient Diabetes foot clinics, information groups, group classes and diabetes dialogue can be found by calling the Outpatient Diabetes Center at 245 Rochester Hill Road, Suite B (across from Skyhaven Airport). Office hours are Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm. For more information on our Outpatient Diabetes Program, please call (603) 994-0120.

Directions to the Outpatient Diabetes Center.

Sheri Hotchkiss, RD, CDE; Ericka Pine, RD, CDE; Marie Hall, RN, CDE; Matthew Kamil, MD; Deborah Thompson, RN