Saint Peter’s University Hospital earns recognition of American Diabetes Association

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s 2021 National Diabetes Statistic Report there are 38.4 million people or 11.6% of the population in the United States who have diabetes. While an estimated 29.7 million have been diagnosed, unfortunately, 8.7 million people are not aware that they have this disease. 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.

The ADA’s Education Recognition Program is the 10th for Saint Peter’s and recognizes Saint Peter’s Thyroid and Diabetes Center; The Division of Pediatric Diabetes and Endocrinology at The Children’s Hospital at Saint Peter’s University Hospital; the Women’s High-Risk Clinic, a part of the Regional Perinatal Center at Saint Peter’s University Hospital; Saint Peter’s Family Health Center; and Saint Peter’s Physician Associates in Monroe and Somerset.

“Recognition from the American Diabetes Association underscores the hard work and commitment of our healthcare professionals who continually exceed the national standards for diabetes education,” said Leslie D. Hirsch, FACHE, president and CEO, Saint Peter’s Healthcare System. “Acknowledgement from the ADA highlights the impact that self-care can have on individual outcomes when patients commit to improving lifestyle choices in tandem with treatment by medical professionals.”

The ADA’s Education Recognition Certificate assures that educational services meet the National Standards for Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support.

“Daily self-management skills are absolutely essential for people to effectively navigate the 24/7 challenges of living with diabetes, helping to keep them healthy and prevent or delay the serious complications of diabetes,” said Linda Cann, the ADA’s senior vice president of professional services. “We applaud Saint Peter’s Center for Diabetes Self-Management Education for its commitment to providing high-quality, evidence-based education and support for people with diabetes by meeting the National Standards for DSME/S and earning the ADA’s ERP recognition.”

Diabetes self-management education is the hallmark of care at Saint Peter’s Thyroid and Diabetes Center, which is directed by Dr. Meena Murthy, who is also the chief of the Division of Endocrinology, Nutrition and Metabolism and director of the South Asian Institute, Department of Medicine at Saint Peter’s University Hospital.

Diabetes self-management education is tailored to each patient’s needs based on comprehensive assessments and integrated with additional services at Saint Peter’s to support diabetes education and care. Saint Peter’s Diabetes Self-Management Education Center’s multidisciplinary staff includes experienced endocrinologists, certified diabetes educators, licensed clinical social workers, registered dietitians, and registered nurses. They work together to provide diagnosis; education; medication, including the insulin pump; nutrition counseling; diagnostic continuous monitoring; exercise counseling; and behavior modification.

The Diabetes Self-Management Education Program at Saint Peter’s is co-coordinated by Carol Schindler and Therese Wyman, who are both registered dietitian-nutritionists and certified diabetes care and education specialists.

“Diabetes is not just a medical condition; it is a life-altering challenge. The constant vigilance of managing blood sugar and staying ahead of complications can be mentally, physically, and emotionally exhausting. Through our diabetes education program, we empower individuals to navigate the challenges of diabetes with the knowledge and confidence that Saint Peter’s is by their side through this journey,” said Schindler.

“Diabetes care is an ever-changing field as new research, technology and treatments emerge. We strive to keep ourselves and our patients up to date on effective self-management tools throughout their lives,” said Wyman. “If you have diabetes, we encourage you to speak with your healthcare provider about prescriptions for ongoing diabetes self-management education. Regularly scheduled appointments will provide you with personalized education and care.”

For more information about Saint Peter’s Diabetes Self-Management Program or to make an appointment, please call 732.745.6667.

For more information from the ADA, please visit diabetes.org.