The Diabetes Resource Center at Sinai Hospital of Baltimore has been awarded recertification by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) Education Recognition program.
Only programs that meet the criteria developed by the ADA and its National Standards for Diabetes Self-Management Programs achieve this distinction. To receive certification, a program's staff members and curriculums must demonstrate a consistency in the quality and quantity of comprehensive information, education and tools provided for people with the disease.
"Participants in our program are taught self-care skills that promote better management of their diabetes treatment regimen," says Sally Pinkstaff, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Diabetes Resource Center at Sinai Hospital. "Having the awareness, understanding and skills to take action against this devastating disease are essential components of diabetes treatment."
To merit the Education Recognition distinction, programs must cover a wide range of topics. They include everything from the disease process, nutritional management, goal setting, problem solving and psychological adjustments to preventing diabetic complications, detecting changes, monitoring glucose levels, and participating in physical activities.
The Education Recognition status defines the highest quality and is awarded for four years. The Diabetes Resource Center at Sinai earned its first certification in 2009
Nearly 26 million people in the United States have diabetes. Many do not find out that they have diabetes until they are treated for one of its life-threatening complications, such as heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, blindness, nerve disease or amputation.
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