The prestigious American Diabetes Association (ADA) Education Recognition Certificate for a quality diabetes self-management education program was recently awarded to the Managing Diabetes Program at Madison Health. ADA believes that this program offers high-quality education that is an essential component of effective diabetes treatment.

The Association’s Education Recognition Certificate assures that educational programs meet the National Standards for Diabetes Self-Management Education Programs. Recognition is a selective process awarded to diabetic education programs fulfilling the best practices standards for Diabetes Self-Management Education, and Madison Health’s program is the first to receive such recognition in Madison County.

Programs apply for Recognition voluntarily. Programs that achieve Recognition status have a staff of knowledgeable health professionals who can provide participants with comprehensive information about diabetes management. Education Recognition status is verified by an official certificate from ADA and awarded for four years.

“Our six month program includes two individual sessions with a Registered Dietitian, four classroom experiences to learn complete diabetic management, and access to additional nutrition and meal planning programming throughout the year,” said Elizabeth Douglass, a Registered Dietitian at Madison Health. “Graduates of our program see improvements in blood sugar control, weight loss, and an increase in energy and quality of life.”

According to the American Diabetes Association, there are 29.1 million people or 9.3% of the population in the United States who have diabetes. While an estimated 21 million have been diagnosed, unfortunately, 8.1 million people are not aware that they have this disease. Each day approximately 4,657 people are diagnosed with diabetes. Many will first learn that they have diabetes when they are treated for one of its life-threatening complications – heart disease and stroke, kidney disease, blindness, and nerve disease and amputation. About 1.7 million new cases of diabetes were diagnosed in people aged 20 years or older in 2012 in the US. Diabetes contributed to 234,051 deaths in 2010, making it the seventh leading cause of death in the US. Overall, the risk for death among people with diabetes is about twice that of people of similar age but without diabetes.

“Since diabetes is such an epidemic in our country, our Dietitians are pleased to offer this advanced level of care and look forward to serving our community’s needs for years to come,” adds Douglass.

Classes are held Wednesdays from 9am until 10:30am, as well as 6pm until 7:30pm. For more information about the Managing Diabetes Program at Madison Health, please call 740.845.7094.

The American Diabetes Association is the nation’s leading non-profit health organization supporting diabetes research, advocacy and information for health professionals, patients and the public. Founded in 1940, the Association has an area office in every state and conducts programs in communities nationwide.

For more information on other Recognized education programs and American Diabetes Association programs, call your local ADA office or contact the ADA online at www.diabetes.org/erp