"The process used by the American Diabetes Association gives professionals a national standard by which to measure the quality of the services they provide,” said St. Vincent’s Program Coordinator Dona Weber, RN, CDE.  “We are very proud to have received this recognition.”  

ADA recognition is a voluntary process which assures that approved education programs have met the National Standards for Diabetes Self-Management Education as established by the American Diabetes Association.  The Standards are designed to be flexible enough to be applicable in any healthcare setting. Programs that achieve recognition status have a staff of knowledgeable health professionals who provide the most current information about managing diabetes.  

“Through the support of the healthcare team and increased knowledge and awareness of diabetes, patients can assume a major part of the responsibility for their diabetes management,” said Certified Diabetes Educator Cecilia Hennig, RD, LD/N.  “We are so excited about this ADA recognition because we are passionate about what we do. Unnecessary hospital admissions and some of the acute and chronic complications of diabetes can be prevented through self-management education.”

Participants in an ADA Recognized program such as that offered by St. Vincent’s HealthCare learn self-care skills that promote better management of diabetes through instruction in a variety of topics, including the following:  diabetes overview; stress and psychosocial adjustment; family involvement and social support; nutrition; exercise and activity; medications; monitoring and use of results; relationships among nutrition, exercise, medication, and blood glucose levels; prevention, detection, and treatment of acute and chronic complications; foot, skin, and dental care; behavior change strategies, goal setting, risk factor reduction, and problem solving; benefits, risks, and management options for improving glucose control; preconception care, pregnancy, and gestational diabetes; and use of health care systems and community resources.

The St. Vincent’s program utilizes an innovative, interactive approach with conversational maps to address the curriculum as set forth by ADA in Standard of Care. These are designed to engage participants actively.  Patients don’t just sit and listen.  They are called on to share their experiences and work with educators and other patients to find solutions and set goals.  

St. Vincent's Healthcare Diabetes and Nutrition Education Program offers group and individual sessions on the campuses of St. Vincent’s Medical Center and St. Luke’s Hospital. Classes are offered at different times during the week and one Saturday each month. Medicare and most insurance companies cover the services. Special financial arrangements are available for self-pay patients. A physician referral is required to enter the program. More information is available at  904-308-7534.

-- Pamela Rittenhouse