The Diabetes Education Program at Heart of America Medical Center in Rugby was recently named an accredited diabetes education program by the American Association of Diabetes Educators. This will allow residents in and around Rugby increased access to critical diabetes education services.

Diabetes education is a collaborative process through which people with or at risk for diabetes gain the knowledge and skills needed to modify behavior and successfully self-manage the disease and its related conditions. It is provided by diabetes educators.

The HAMC Certified Diabetes Education Program offers diabetes education classes at the HAMC Fox Auditorium the third Thursday of each month.

“My goal is to give people with diabetes the knowledge, skills and tools they need to successfully manage their diabetes and its related conditions,” said Rebecca Haman, certified diabetes educator, HAMC. “I want to help them achieve a better quality of life and reduce their need for costly healthcare.”

“Trends show that diabetes education is moving out of the hospital and into the community, so AADE’s accreditation program was created, in part, to encourage diabetes education where the patient is seeking care,” said Leslie E. Kolb, RN, BSN, MBA, Program Director, Diabetes Education Accreditation Program. “The Heart of America Certified Diabetes Education Program is exactly the type of program we envisioned when we set up our accreditation program in 2009.”