| Norma Mello, RN, CDE, a Certified Diabetes Educator at Southcoast performs a blood glucose test at the Tobey Hospital Diabetes Fair. |
Diabetes Program Earns National Certification
Tens of thousands of people in the South Coast region struggle with diabetes every day. It diminishes their health and often robs years of their lives.
The regional Southcoast Diabetes Management Program helps thousands of people with diabetes live healthier lives by helping them better manage their condition. Available at four different sites throughout the region, Southcoast's diabetes educators last year conducted over 4,000 visits with patients and their families, providing valuable education and counseling that helps these patients better manage their health.
The program recently earned the highest possible certification from the American Diabetes Association--the Education Recognition Certificate. This is a national standard that recognizes local diabetes self-management education programs for their excellence and quality of services.
Diabetes is a chronic disease, affecting the body's ability to produce or use insulin, which controls blood sugar levels. Although there is no cure for diabetes, research shows that the risk of complications such as blood vessel or kidney damage, blindness or nerve damage, can be reduced through intensive management of blood sugar levels.
Programs that achieve ADA recognition status have a staff of knowledgeable health professionals who can provide state-of-the-art information about diabetes management. The Southcoast Diabetes Management Programs include diabetes education classes, individual counseling, insulin pump management, support groups, community education and professional education. The programs are available at Charlton Memorial, St. Luke's and Tobey Hospitals and at the Center for Women's Health at Faunce Corner.
"These programs are beneficial to everyone," said Fran Fuller, RN, Director of Outpatient & Specialty Services. "Even people who have had diabetes for years are usually surprised by how much they can learn in this outpatient program. Unnecessary hospital admissions and some of the acute and chronic complications of diabetes may be prevented through self-management education."
Did you know . . .
- Approximately one in every 12 people in the South Coast region suffers from diabetes.
- The incidence of diabetes in the area is twice the state average.
- Diabetes is the sixth leading cause of death in Massachusetts.
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