Five Benefits of Nutrition & Diabetes Education in a Group Setting

If you have diabetes, high cholesterol, pre-diabetes, or issues with weight management, your healthcare provider may recommend a visit with a dietitian or diabetes educator. You can meet with these experts one-on-one, but there are also opportunities to meet with these providers in a small group setting, comprised of you, a few other patients, and the expert.

Attending a group can be intimidating at first, but participants often find that the information covered, topics discussed, and resources provided are the same as—or even better than—what they receive in an individual session with their provider.

Some benefits of education in a group setting are:

Comradery: Group education provides an opportunity to be in the presence of other people who are managing a condition similar to yours. This allows participants to share experiences and advice with each other.

Increased motivation: The combination of healthcare provider-led education and learning from peers can help keep you motivated as you make positive lifestyle changes.

More information: In a group setting, another patient may ask a question you didn’t even know you had. This means you’ll get even more information that can benefit your own self-management.

Individual attention from the expert: Each participant can expect to receive recommendations and guidance based on their own individual results, despite being in a group setting.

Lower cost: Meeting one-on-one with a provider can be expensive. Group settings tend to be more affordable—and your insurance company may cover some of the cost. (Be sure to call the member services line, often found on the back of your insurance card, to confirm your benefits.)

Our group education programs combine medical education, self-management training, and patient empowerment in a group setting under the guidance of a registered dietitian or diabetes educator.
 

Visit our website to learn more about events, education programs, and more available at South Shore Health.