ASHEBORO- The prestigious American Diabetes Association (ADA) Education Recognition Certificate for a quality diabetes self-management education program was recently awarded to Randolph Health Diabetes Center. The Center was originally recognized in November 1999.
The ADA Education Recognition efforts, begun in the fall of 1986, is a voluntary process which assures that approved education programs have met the National Standards for Diabetes Self-Management Programs. Programs that achieve Recognition status have a staff of knowledgeable health professionals who can provide state-of-the-art information about diabetes management for patients.
Self- management education is an essential component of diabetes treatment. Participants are taught, as needed, self-care skills that will promote better management of his or her diabetes treatment regimen. The program at Randolph Health Diabetes Center covers the following topics as needed: diabetes disease process; nutritional management; physical activity; medications; monitoring; preventing, detecting and testing acute complications; preventing, detecting and treating chronic complications through risk reduction; goal setting and problem solving; psychological adjustment; and preconception care, management during pregnancy and gestational management.
Assuring high-quality education for patient self-care is one of the primary goals of the Education Recognition program. Through the support of the health care team and increased knowledge and awareness of diabetes, the patient can assume a major part of the responsibility for his/her diabetes management. Unnecessary hospital admissions and some of the acute and chronic complications of diabetes may be prevented through self-management education.