Diabetes & Nutrition Education Information for Referring Providers
Cascade Health Diabetes and Nutrition Education includes diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) and medical nutritional therapy (MNT) services. These services can help you improve outcomes for patients while using less of your clinic’s staff time.
Our personalized, in-depth education and support programs complement the care you provide to help patients make healthy changes to their lifestyles and reduce the risk of complications from many diseases.
For referrals, please fill out the form and fax to 541-228-3181. For questions or help in filling out this referral, please call 541-228-3020.
About Our Diabetes Education Program
Cascade Health’s diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) program is an American Diabetes Association-recognized covered by most insurance plans.
We spend ample time teaching your patients the ins and outs of their disease so they feel confident and empowered to manage it well. We see patients with type I, type II, gestational or prediabetes and our program covers:
Blood glucose monitoring and how to use a glucose meter if needed.
How to use injectable medication (insulin and GLPs).
How to use an insulin pump and CGM education.
How to initiate and maintain healthy lifestyle changes, including nutrition and physical activity.
We also offer free support groups and follow up appointments to give your patients the ongoing help and support they need to be successful long-term.
About Our Nutrition Education Program
We offer evidence-based medical nutrition therapy (MNT) as part of a comprehensive diabetes education plan or as a standalone service to address the following conditions:
✅ Obesity
✅ Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) (including FODMAP elimination/reintroduction education and support)
✅ Celiac disease
✅ DASH
✅ Heart health
✅ Plant-based and Mediterranean diets
✅ Chronic kidney disease (CKD), stage 3 and 4
✅ Our nutrition services focus on working collaboratively with your patient to develop goals and create a realistic plan to achieve them. We then follow up regularly to monitor progress and adjust the plan as needed.
Why Refer Your Patients to Cascade Health?
We have been helping people navigate the complexities of diabetes and other health issues requiring lifestyle change for more than 30 years. Staffed by highly skilled nurses, dietitians and trainers with years of experience, we provide customized care to help your patients develop healthier habits and reduce complications related to their disease. As a nonprofit organization, education is a key part of our mission to improve quality of life in the community we serve. We appreciate your partnership.
Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support
Diabetes education programs have the greatest positive impact when patients are referred at 4 key times:
When they are first diagnosed with diabetes.
Once a year thereafter to review compliance and monitor for complications.
Any time they develop new complications, such as if an insulin pump becomes necessary.
If changes in their lives or care are making self-management difficult.
Medicare, Medicaid/Oregon Health Plan and most commercial insurance plans cover initial and follow up diabetes education.
Medical Nutrition Therapy
There are many circumstances under which MNT could be recommended. Some of the issues for which we recommend referring patients include:
Diabetes
Stage 3 or 4 CKD
BMI >30 and difficulty losing weight
New diagnoses such as celiac disease or IBS
Nutritional deficiency due to a medical condition or poor appetite
Please note that we do not see patients with eating disorders. Please refer such patients to dietitians specializing in this area.
Medicare covers MNT for patients with a diagnosis of diabetes or stage 3 or 4 CKD. Medicaid/Oregon Health Plan cover for diabetes and obesity. Private insurance varies. We will attempt to confirm coverage with private insurance companies but encourage patients to inquire as well. We also offer reasonably priced self-pay options for those without insurance coverage.
When to Refer to Cascade Health for DSME or MNT Help
How to Make a Referral
You may begin the patient referral process by calling us at (541) 228-3020. Or complete the Cascade Health Diabetes and Nutrition Education Referral Form and fax it to (541) 228-3181 or email it to dne.info@cascadehealth.org. If calling, you will need to be prepared to provide the following:
Patient’s name, address and phone number
Patient’s date of birth
Diagnosis
Referring contact and phone number
Attending physician’s name
Medicare/insurance carrier ID number, phone number, policy number and name of policy holder
Our team strives to process referrals and reach out to your patient to establish care within 1 week. If your patient needs urgent attention, please mark their referral forms with “ASAP” or “Urgent” and we will try to see them within 2 weekdays.