Classes and Events
UPMC Mercy South Side Outpatient Center offers a wide variety of classes and programs designed to improve the health of our patients and community residents. From diabetes education to stroke support groups, from smoking cessation to wellness, we have you covered.
Diabetes Education
Proper diabetes management takes a lot of know-how. From blood glucose monitoring and insulin injection to diet and exercise, education is key to control. But there’s so much information out there. How can you make sense of it all?
Our diabetes education programs help you take the proper steps to promote your health. Our courses have received recognition from the American Diabetes Association for quality diabetes self-management education and cover a wide range of topics to help you manage diabetes.
- The Diabetes Self-Management Program is led by nurses, dieticians, and pharmacists. It teaches patients how to take control of the disease to help ensure a healthy life. The program offers people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes one-on-one counseling with diabetes nurse educators and registered dietitians.
- The Comprehensive Diabetes Self-Management Group classes include lectures, group discussions, workshops, demonstrations, audio-visual presentations, and healthy foods. Key topics include:
- General diabetes education
- Personalized meal planning
- Medications
- Blood glucose monitoring
- Short- and long-term complications
- Activity and exercise
- Restaurant dining
- Sick days and travel
- Coping with stress
- Community resources
Call 412-488-5687 to schedule an appointment. Our staff can work with you, your doctor, and your insurance company to coordinate services.
Smoking Cessation Education
Quitting the use of tobacco takes knowledge and support. The key to a successful quit is personal motivation, such as health issues, the stigma of smoking, relationships, or financial concerns.
Our free courses, facilitated by a nationally certified tobacco cessation specialist, are co-sponsored by Tobacco Free Allegheny and the Pennsylvania Department of Health, and can help you with the long-term support for smoking cessation
The comprehensive smoking cessation classes, “Knowing When to Quit,” include lectures, psycho-education, group discussions, and audio-visual presentations. Key topics include:
- Medical consequences of smoking
- Nicotine addiction and withdrawal
- Eotional triggers
- Psychological beliefs
- Stages of quitting: thinking about quitting, quitting, maintenance, slip, and relapse
- Pharmacotherapy
- Behavioral treatments
- Cognitive treatments
- Coping with stress
- Weight gain issues
Participants often are recommended to take part in 12 sessions. Vouchers also are provided to receive nicotine transdermal patches at no cost.
For information or to register for classes, please call 412-488-6250.