Palos Community Hospital’s Diabetes Education Program earns Continued Recognition from ADA

Palos Community Hospital has been awarded renewed recognition by the American Diabetes Association for its quality diabetes education program.

Programs achieving ADA recognition status have a staff of knowledgeable health professionals providing comprehensive information about diabetes management. The education recognition status is awarded for four-year periods. Palos originally received the certification in 1997.

“The recognition lets the people we serve know we meet the national standard for excellence established by the American Diabetes Association and they can trust they will be receiving the best care and education, as well as the most up-to-date and accurate information,” says Lela Iliopoulos, a dietitian supervisor for Palos’ Outpatient Diabetes Education Program.

The program at Palos provides a continuum of care for people with diabetes and their support system.  

Last year, more than 620 people were helped through the diabetes education program at Palos. The program includes hands-on instruction about the self-monitoring of blood glucose, education about diet and exercise to both treat and prevent diabetes, instruction about a physician-developed insulin treatment plan specifically for the patient who is insulin-dependent, and motivation for patients to use the skills for self-management and any necessary lifestyle changes.

In addition to an annual Diabetes Fair, Palos provides a series of individual and group sessions, taught by certified diabetes educators, to help people better understand and manage their diabetes.

The Diabetes Game Plan is offered every other Thursday from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. and the third Monday of each month from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The class addresses the skills it takes to confidently manage diabetes on a daily basis and includes a customized eating plan based on your specific needs.

Classes offered:

• Blood Glucose Monitoring
• Meal Planning & Blood Glucose Evaluation
• Recognizing & Preventing Complications
• Medications
• Heart Healthy Eating
• Cooking Fast and Healthy
• Heart Healthy Eating on the Go
• Making Changes
• Exercise
• Stress & Coping
• Foot Care
• Insulin Instruction and Insulin Pump Training
• Medication and Insulin Review Class

According to the American Diabetes Association, there are 25.8 million people, or 8.5 percent of the population, in the United States who have diabetes. While an estimated 18.8 million have been diagnosed, unfortunately 7 million people are not aware they have the disease. Each day approximately 5,205 people are diagnosed with diabetes. Many first learn they have diabetes when they are treated for one of its life-threatening complications – heart disease and stroke, kidney disease, blindness, and nerve disease and amputation.

Appointments are necessary. For more information about the Diabetes Education Program at Palos, visit us online at www.paloscommunityhospital.org/services/diabetes/ or call (708) 226-2330.