June 26, 2019 – The prestigious American Diabetes Association Education
Recognition Certificate for a quality diabetes self-management education
and support (DSMES) service was recently awarded to the
diabetes education programs at the Southeast Georgia Health System Brunswick and Camden campuses.
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 services meet the National Standards for Diabetes Self-Management
Education and Support. The DSMES 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, 2012 and 2017.
DSMES services apply for Recognition voluntarily. Services that achieve
Recognition status have a staff of knowledgeable health professionals
who can provide participants with comprehensive information about diabetes
management. “The process gives professionals a national standard
by which to measure the quality of services they provide, comments Sue
Ullrich, R.N., MA.Ed., CDE, diabetes program coordinator, Southeast Georgia
Health System. “And, of course, it assures the consumer that he
or she will likely receive high-quality service.” Education Recognition
status is verified by an official certificate from ADA and awarded for
four years.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 2017
National Diabetes Statistic Report there are 30.3 million people or 9.4
percent of the population in the United States who have diabetes. While
an estimated 23.1 million have been diagnosed, unfortunately, 7.2 million
people are not aware that they have this disease. Each day more than 3,900
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, stroke, kidney disease, blindness, nerve disease,
and amputation. About 1.5 million new cases of diabetes were diagnosed
in people aged 18 years or older in 2015. Diabetes continues to be the
seventh leading cause of death in the US in 2015 as it contributed to
252,806 deaths.
The American Diabetes Association is the nation’s leading non-profit
health organization supporting diabetes research, advocacy and information
for health professionals, people with diabetes and the public. Founded
in 1940, the Association continues to support people affected by diabetes
nationwide.
For more information about the Health System’s diabetes education
program, visit
sghs.org/diabetes-education or call 912-466-1689 (Brunswick) or 912-576-6488 (Camden).