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UMC diabetes program receives national recognition

With a recent national award, the UMC's diabetes program is well on the way to its goal of continuing the development of an educational program that can both prevent and treat the disease.

The UMC's Diabetes Care for a Lifetime Program was recently awarded the American Diabetes Association's Education Recognition Certificate.

"UMC plans to continue increasing diabetes-related efforts as part of the Diabetes Care for a Lifetime Program," said Greg Pivirotto, University Medical Center president and CEO. "This certification is an important step in this direction."

The program, which manages both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, offers patients the combined expertise of a nutritionist, a nurse practitioner, a pharmacist, an exercise specialist, a counselor and a bilingual educator.

These specialists are only a small part of the staff Pivirotto calls a "tremendous group of individuals."

Program coordinator Betsy Dokken also recognizes the importance of the award.

"We are extremely proud of this quality designation for our program," Dokken said. "ADA recognition is the product of years of hard work within our department."

Dokken added that UMC's educational program is one of the city's best.

"Our sessions on diabetes self-management are delivered by an interdisciplinary team that offers one of the most comprehensive educational programs in Tucson," she said.

Educational programs of this type are crucial for people at risk for developing diabetes and for those who are currently diagnosed, according to a UMC press release.

By instructing patients on how better to control blood sugar levels, complications such as blindness, kidney damage, nerve damage and lower-limb amputations can be avoided.

This certification program, established in the early 1980s by the ADA, assures that UMC's diabetes education complies with the National Standards for Diabetes Self-Management Education Programs.

These standards include the assessment of a staff's ability to provide comprehensive, individualized, and state-of-the-art information about diabetes management, according to the ADA.