T.J. Samson Community Hospital Outpatient Services in Glasgow. Will Perkins/Glasgow News 1
STAFF REPORT
Glasgow News 1
The diabetes self-management program in Glasgow was recently recognized by the American Diabetes Association.
The association’s education recognition effort is a voluntary process that “assures that approved education programs have met the National Standards for Diabetes Self-Management Education 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 participants.
“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 [their] diabetes management,” a T.J. Regional Health press release stated. “Unnecessary hospital admissions and some of the acute and chronic complications of diabetes may be prevented through self-management education.”
Self-management education is an essential component of diabetes treatment, according to the release. The now-recognized program covers a myriad of valuable topics, including:
- diabetes disease process
- nutritional management
- physical activity
- medications
- monitoring
- preventing, detecting, and treating acute complications
- preventing, detecting, and treating chronic complications through risk reduction
- goal setting and problem solving
- psychological adjustment
- preconception care, management during pregnancy, and gestational management
One consequence of compliance with the National Standards is the greater consistency in the quality and quantity of education offered to people with diabetes. The participant in an recognized program will be taught, as needed, self-care skills that will promote better management of his or her diabetes treatment regimen.
“The process gives professionals a national standard by which to measure the quality of the services they provide,” said Tosha Garmon, Population Health Program Coordinator. “And, of course, it helps consumers to identify these quality programs.”
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