On This Page
Learn How to Better Manage Your Diabetes
Diabetes education is essential to diagnose and treat patients with diabetes. The Utah Diabetes and Endocrinology Center (UDEC) has a diabetes education team consisting of four registered dietitians and one clinical pharmacist.
Skilled Educators
Our educators are highly skilled in all areas of diabetes education as well as diet for bariatric surgery, weight loss management, renal dietary management, and basic healthy eating.
Certified by the American Diabetes Association in Diabetes Self-Management Training (DSMT), our education team teaches patients to monitor and maintain their blood sugars at a healthy level to decrease complications associated with diabetes.
We offer individual diabetes education at the UDEC and other locations in the Salt Lake Valley. Most insurance companies will pay for diabetes education.

Classes at UDEC
Registration is required for individual appointments.
Diabetes Educators
Dana Dopita RN, MSN, CDCES
Dana is a registered nurse and certified diabetes educator. She graduated from the College of Nursing at Westminster College in 1989 and then obtained her master of science in nursing at the University of Phoenix. Dana is a certified trainer for insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitoring sensors and has also participated in research studies related to sensor technologies.
She herself has type 1 diabetes and enjoys spending time with family, traveling, reading, skiing, hiking, and playing with her dog. She sets a positive example for her patients to show them that living with diabetes is possible.
Meg Graf MS, RD, CDCES
Meg received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Utah and her master’s degree in nutrition from the University of Utah as well. Meg worked as a renal dietitian before making the switch to diabetes education.
Meg has worked at the Utah Diabetes and Endocrinology Center since 2011. She loves helping people make changes to improve their lives. Meg is an avid reader and loves biking, hiking, baking, kitchen dance parties, and spending time with her family.
Christine Altamirano, RD, LDN
Christine Altamirano is a registered and licensed dietitian. She received both her bachelor’s degree in exercise science and her master’s degree in nutrition and integrative physiology from the University of Utah. She enjoys helping her patients personalize their diabetes management to fit their lifestyle and meet their goals. She is a certified product trainer on all available insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors.
When she isn't working she can be found spending time with family and friends, experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen, or putting paintbrush to canvas.
Donna J Mark, MS, RD, CDCES
Donna J Mark is a registered dietitian and a certified diabetes educator. She received her BS in dietetics from California Polytechnic University and her master's degree in nutrition from the University of New Mexico. Her passion is to work with people and assist them in making positive lifestyle changes. She provides individualized care for her patients who manage their diabetes with oral medications to pump therapy and the use of the continuous glucose monitoring systems.
On Donna's off time she loves to walk her dogs and hunt for rocks in the mountains of Utah, but her favorite activity is spending time with family and her precious grandchildren.
Shahrzad Jalili, MS, RD, CDCES
Shahrzad is a registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator. She graduated from Beheshti University of Medical Sciences in Iran, in 2007, with a bachelor of science in nutrition science and dietetics. Later in 2009 she moved to Utah to peruse graduate studies at the University of Utah; she graduated in 2011 with a master's of science in nutrition science and obtained her registered dietitian credentials for practicing in US. She is currently a doctorate student in public health program, at the University of Utah, working on her dissertation that is related to diabetes. She is a certified product trainer for all the available insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors.
She enjoys working with patients with diabetes, learning about their challenges, and assisting them to overcome challenges and reach their goals. She enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, and hiking.
Angie Smith, MS, RD, BC-ADM
Angie is a registered dietitian and diabetes educator. She holds a board certified-advanced diabetes management credential and received both her bachelors in recreational therapy and her masters in nutrition and integrative physiology from the University of Utah. She is a caring compassionate nutrition therapist, with a love for culinary medicine and a passion for supporting clients on their journey to sustainable solutions. She provides individualized care for her patients' who manage their diabetes with oral medications and to pump therapy and the use of continuous glucose monitoring systems.
Driving Out Diabetes: Additional Diabetes Education Programs
Intensive Diabetes Education and Support (IDEAS)
Diabetes Complications Program
Early detection of diabetes complications can allow for early treatment, slowing the progression of the complication and improving quality of life. Because individuals with diabetes are at a high risk for developing eye complications, the Diabetes Complication Program offers retinal testing to identify early stage eye complications. Each test takes less than 15 minutes to complete.