Nutrition Education & Diabetes

Grand Valley Wellness - Outpatient Diabetes/Nutrition
605B 28 1/4 Road
Grand Junction, CO 81506
(970) 263-2664

The registered dietitians at Community Hospital provide individualized nutrition education and counseling also known as MNT (Medical Nutrition Therapy) for a variety of medical diagnoses. We require a physician’s referral with a diagnosis to be able to offer this service. Insurance coverage for medical nutrition therapy is dependant on an individual’s insurance carrier.

Mission Statement
The mission of Community Hospital’s Diabetes Education Center is to improve the knowledge, health and quality of life of individuals with diabetes. Empowering individuals and the community through education on diabetes management is the key to achieving optimal health.

Insurance Coverage
Outpatient diabetes education is covered by many insurance plans with a physician referral. Our staff will assist you to verify coverage or determine a fee schedule.

Our Health Care Professionals
      Sandy Paulson, RD, CDE
      Jeanette Durham, MS, RD, CDE
      Kelley McClain, RD, CNSC, CDE
      Danielle Wells, RN, CHWC
      Naomi Martin, RD, CNSC
      Mara Caris, RD, CDE
      Lakshmi Sheanh, RD

Nutrition Education & Counseling Topics

  • Malnutrition
    Malnutrition is a nutrition imbalance, particularly undernutrition, which can often present when you are not or cannot consume enough nutrients to sustain your body’s needs. Our dietitians can create a personalized nutrition care plan to help you optimize intake habits and meet your body’s nutritional needs.

  • Cancer
    Often, cancer can cause a variety of nutrition impact symptoms that may compromise a person’s ability to eat and drink adequately, putting them at an increased risk for malnutrition. Even in the survivorship setting, a person may have specific nutrition needs. Grand Valley Oncology has a dietitian on staff to create personalized nutrition care plans and help to optimize nutritional status.

  • Celiac Disease (Celiac Sprue)
    Celiac disease is a digestive disease that damages the small intestine. Nutritional Services can help devise a personalized healthy eating plan.

  • Cholesterol Management
    By learning how cholesterol is produced, distributed, and functions within your body it is easier to form an effective dietary and exercise plan to achieve a healthier lifestyle.

  • Diabetes

  • Food Allergies
    Our dietitians can help answer your questions about food allergies and intolerance for all ages, and can also provide you with information on helpful services and resources to promote sound nutrition habits.

  • Hypertension
    Due to the serious effects of hypertension, forming a healthy lifestyle plan is essential when it comes to lowering your risk factors for heart disease. By consulting a dietitian you will learn how to stay informed about your blood pressure, balance it at a healthy level through diet and exercise.

  • Sports Nutrition
    Nutrition Services will personalize a healthy and balanced diet to correspond to the other key components of a fit athlete.

  • Vegetarian / Vegan
    Learn how to achieve a balanced plant based diet through a personalized consultation with a dietitian.

  • Weight Management
    Learn more about our surgical weight loss center.

  • And more!

    • Optifast

    The 18-week OPTIFAST program includes weekly lifestyle education classes, satisfying meal replacements, counseling and support and physician supervised weight loss program. Weekly program cost including meal replacements and you buy no other food. Price will drop after week 13 as you transition back to store bought food.

    For more information, pricing and your initial consultation, call Sandy at (970) 263-2623 or e-mail spaulson@gjhosp.org.

    Diabetes Center

    Almost 17 million people have diabetes.
    Learning to manage diabetes requires making informed choices. Community Hospital’s Diabetes Education Center provides the most current information to help people make choices that lead to a healthier life with fewer complications from diabetes.
    Did you know:
  • 7.5% of the U.S. population has diabetes.
  • Every week 15,000 people learn they have diabetes.
  • Diabetes is the seventh-leading cause of death in the U.S.
  • Diabetes has an annual mortality rate of 54,000
  • 50% of patients with diabetes are over the age of 54.

    • Diabetes in Colorado
  • Approximately 5% of adults in Colorado have diabetes—that’s 247,300 people.
  • Diabetes is increasing rapidly in children.
  • Certain racial and ethnic groups suffer from diabetes and its complications more than others. African-American and Latino Coloradans experience higher rates than their Caucasian counterparts.



    • Community Hospital has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for Diabetes Center of Excellence Accreditation by demonstrating continuous compliance with its performance standards. The Gold Seal is a symbol of quality that reflects a health care organization’s commitment to providing safe and quality patient care.

    Diabetes Education

    Diabetes Education Network- Community Hospital offers a free monthly class, with a variety of topics, for those living with diabetes. Call today for the next available class, (970) 263-2664.

    Diabetes Basic Skills- Join us for any of the weekly classes that will help you develop & practice basic skills for dealing with diabetes. Physician referral and pre-registration is required. There is a class fee. Please call (970) 263-2664 for more information.

    Diabetes Counts- A support, awareness and mentoring group created to support persons with Type 1 Diabetes of any age and their families. For more information, visit us on
    Facebook.com/DiabetesCounts or DiabetesCounts.org