The prestigious American Diabetes Association Education Recognition Certificate for a quality diabetes self-management education program was recently awarded to the USC Westside Center for Diabetes on Jan. 12, 2017. The Association believes this program offers high-quality, individualized education, which is an essential component of effective diabetes treatment.

It is the first Los Angeles-based medical facility focused on adults with Type 1 diabetes receives national recognition for diabetes self-management education.

The Association’s Education Recognition Certificate assures that educational programs meet the national standards for Diabetes Self-Management Education Programs. These standards were developed and tested under the auspices of the National Diabetes Advisory Board in 1983 and were revised by the diabetes community in 1994, 2000, 2007 and 2012.

Programs apply for recognition voluntarily and are required to meet the 10 standards as outlined in the 2012 National Standards for Diabetes Self- Management Education and Support. As an example, Standard 6 requires that the program’s curriculum address the following nine content areas:
— Describing the diabetes disease process and treatment options

— Incorporating nutritional management into lifestyle

— Incorporating physical activity into lifestyle

— Using medication(s) safely and for maximum therapeutic effectiveness

— Monitoring blood glucose and other parameters and interpreting and using the results for self-management decision making

— Preventing, detecting, and treating acute complications

— Preventing, detecting, and treating chronic complications

— Developing personal strategies to address psychosocial issues and concerns

— Developing personal strategies to promote health and behavior change

Programs that achieve recognition status have a multi-disciplinary team of knowledgeable health professionals who can provide participants with a comprehensive diabetes self management education program.

“The process gives professionals a national standard by which to measure the quality of services they provide,” commented Cassie Shafer, region vice president of the Association’s Southern California Region. “And, of course, it assures patients they will likely receive high-quality service.” Education recognition status is verified by an official certificate from the Association and awarded for four years.

“The USC Westside Center for Diabetes program is unique in its focus on adults with Type 1 diabetes and we are proud to be able to provide much needed education and treatment support to this patient population” said Mark Harmel MPH/CDE, the site’s program coordinator.

According to the 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 nation. Overall, the risk for death among people with diabetes is about twice that of people of similar age but without diabetes.

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 recognized education programs in the Los Angeles area or other American Diabetes Association programs, call the local Association office or connect online at www.diabetes.org/erp.

ABOUT THE AMERICAN DIABETES ASSOCIATION, GREATER LOS ANGELES AREA
The American Diabetes Association is leading the fight to Stop Diabetes and its deadly consequences and fighting for those affected by diabetes. The Association funds research to prevent, cure and manage diabetes; delivers services to hundreds of communities; provides objective and credible information; and gives voice to those denied their rights because of diabetes. Founded in 1940, our mission is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. For more information please call the American Diabetes Association, Greater Los Angeles Area office at (323) 966-2890 or the national office at 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383) or visit www.diabetes.org. Information from both these sources is available in English and Spanish. Find us on Facebook (ADALosAngeles), Twitter (@ADA_LosAngeles) and Instagram (@ADALosAngeles).