Diabetes education program gets accreditation

TORRINGTON — Community Health & Wellness Center’s Diabetes Education Program has achieved the milestone of accreditation by the Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists, according to a statement.

Accreditation represents a high level of quality and service to the community, and the ability to better meet the needs of Medicare recipients and others affected by diabetes in the Northwest corner.

CHWC offers individual diabetes education appointments as well as nutritional counseling at the Torrington office, at 469 Migeon Avenue, and the Winsted office at 10 Center St.

Diabetes educators include Elizabeth Ca ru the rs, program coordinator; Cristin Davis, and Amy Mayerjak.

Heather Matthews, a community health worker, facilitates outreach and addresses needs related to social determinants of health. The team strives to provide quality diabetes selfmanagement education and support to enable their patients to live well with diabetes, according to the statement.

“Ninety-nine percent of care for diabetes falls on the person who is living with it,” said Caruthers. “Having access to a diabetes educator who can provide that extra support and guidance along the journey is so valuable. When people gain knowledge and confidence managing their diabetes, not only does their health improve, but their quality of life does, too.”

Diabetes education services use a collaborative process through which people with diabetes, or at risk for diabetes, work with a diabetes educator to receive individualized care to help them reach their health goals. Diabetes education is a covered Medicare benefit when delivered through an accredited program.

“Evidence shows diabetes education and support is helping people with diabetes to lower their A1C’s and obtain the knowledge and skills to better self-manage their condition,” said Sacha Uelmen, director of accreditation at ADCES. “That is why we need programs like the one available at CHWC to make these services accessible to the communities they serve.”

The CHWC Diabetes Education Program works for the prevention and management of diabetes through individualized, patient centered services that build selfmanagement skills. The interdisciplinary team includes nurses, a registered dietitian, and a community health worker. Each team member has specialized training in diabetes care and education, and they work closely with patients and their primary care provider to offer diabetes education, and support optimal self-care.

For more information about CHWC and the Diabetes Education Program, please visit the website at www.communityhealthandwellness.org or CHWC’s Facebook page.

Caruthers