Diabetes Care Center earns national recognition

The Beaufort Memorial Diabetes Care Center, which welcomes patients with the common condition in both Beaufort and Okatie, was recognized at the end of August by the American Diabetes Association through their Education Recognition Program.

The Beaufort Memorial Diabetes Self-Management Program has held the prestigious American Diabetes Association Education Recognition Certificate since 2000, ensuring that the program meets rigorous national standards to provide people with diabetes with the tools necessary for controlling blood sugar levels and reducing the risk of complications.

A diabetes educator can play a pivotal role in determining what works for each individual patient in controlling all types of diabetes.

“The diabetes educators at Beaufort Memorial work closely with people with diabetes to help them maximize their diabetes management in addition to their overall health to enable them to have the best quality of life possible,” said Roxanne Davis, MPH, RD, LD, CNSC, Beaufort Memorial Clinical Nutrition Manager and ADA ERP Quality Coordinator.

The ADA’s ERP certificate assures that educational services meet the national standards for Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES).

The corresponding intervention provided is evidence-based and outcome driven, and services apply for recognition voluntarily and ADA-ERP recognition lasts for four years.

“DSMES is an essential part of managing diabetes and is as effective as diabetes medication,” said Barbara Eichhorst, MS, RD, CDCES, ADA vice president of health programs. “We applaud the Beaufort Memorial Diabetes Care Center for its commitment to providing value-based interventions such as DSMES, maximizing corresponding outcomes and patient experience.” According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, there are over 38 million people nationwide – 11.6% of the U.S. population – who have diabetes.

While an estimated 29.7 million have been diagnosed, unfortunately 8.7 million are not aware that they have the condition. Nearly 3,300 Americans are diagnosed with diabetes every day. Many will first learn they have diabetes when they are treated for one of its life-threatening complications such as heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, blindness, nerve disease or amputation.

The Beaufort Memorial Diabetes Care Center has two locations: The LifeFit Wellness Center, located on the first floor of the Beaufort Memorial Medical and Administrative Center at 990 Ribaut Road in Beaufort, as well as at the Okatie Medical Pavilion, 122 Okatie Center Blvd in Okatie.

As a part of this Diabetes Self-Management Program, patients meet with diabetes educators who help them develop
the skills needed to manage diabetes, including how to monitor blood sugar, take medications as directed, get active and avoid complications. These diabetes educators are also registered dietitians who can teach patients how to make smart dietary choices, track carbohydrates and read food labels.

If you have diabetes and want to enroll in this nationally recognized Diabetes Self-Management Program, call the Life- Fit Wellness Center at 843-522-5635.