Mercy Health – Youngstown Diabetes Education Earns Recognition from the American Diabetes Association
The ADA’s Education Recognition Program certification ensures quality diabetes education and support for people living with diabetes.
YOUNGSTOWN, OH (November 7, 2024) – The American Diabetes Association® (ADA) — the nation’s leading organization committed to fighting diabetes — recently announced the recognition of Mercy Health – Youngstown Diabetes Education through their Education Recognition Program (ERP).
The ADA’s ERP certificate assures that educational services meet the National Standards for DSMES. The corresponding intervention provided is evidence-based and outcome driven. Services apply for recognition voluntarily and ADA-ERP recognition lasts for four years.
“DSMES is essential part of managing diabetes and is as affective as diabetes medication. Therefore, all people with diabetes benefit from it,” said Barbara Eichorst, MS, RD, CDCES, the ADA’s vice president of health programs. “We applaud Mercy Health – Youngstown Diabetes Education for its commitment to providing value-based interventions such as DSMES, maximizing corresponding outcomes, and patient experience.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) National Diabetes Fact Sheet, there are over 38 million people, or 11.6%, of the U.S. population who have diabetes. While an estimated 29.7 million have been diagnosed, unfortunately 8.7 million people are not aware they have this disease. Each day, nearly 3,300 Americans are diagnosed with diabetes. Many will first learn they have diabetes when they are treated for one of its life-threatening complications—heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, blindness, nerve disease, or amputation. Diabetes is the eighth leading cause of death in the U.S.—in 2021, it contributed to 399,401 deaths. The ADA’s Economic Costs of Diabetes in the U.S. in 2022 report confirms diabetes continues to be one of the nation’s most expensive chronic health care conditions with an estimated cost of diagnosed diabetes of $412.9 billion.
“It is so important for all people with diabetes to participate in diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) to help acquire the skills they need to manage their disease and problem-solve during this significant time in their lives. The benefits of this education are numerous and can make the difference in the longevity of someone with diabetes. These benefits include decreased hospitalizations and A1C levels, weight loss, and reduction in medication and dosing, as well as overall prevention of complications related to the illness,” said Debbie Hlad, RDN, CDCES, LD, Diabetes Education Manager and Diabetes Education Dietitian for the Mercy Health – Youngstown Diabetes Education program. “Our team of registered dietitian nutritionists and registered nurses, who are Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialists, lead group and individual education sessions by appointment. We also have a team of providers ready to help you manage your diabetes.”
To learn more about the Mercy Health – Youngstown Diabetes Education program, individuals can call 330-480-2676, Monday through Friday, from 8 am to 4:30 PM.
Learn more about the ADA’s ERP and other ERP-certified services.
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About Mercy Health – Youngstown
Mercy Health - Youngstown is part ofBon Secours Mercy Health one of the 20 largest health systems in the United States and the fifth-largest Catholic health system in the country. The ministry’s quality, compassionate care is provided by more than 60,000 associates serving communities in Kentucky, Maryland, New York, Ohio, South Carolina and Virginia, as well as throughout Ireland. Mercy Health – Youngstown is an integrated health system in the Mahoning Valley, which encompasses the Youngstown/Warren metropolitan area – Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties in Ohio. Mercy Health - Youngstown provides a full spectrum of health care services – acute inpatient and trauma, outpatient and ambulatory, rehabilitation, behavioral, emergency and urgent care, primary care, specialist physician care, and home medical equipment, as well as Mercy Health Foundation Mahoning Valley. The mission of Mercy Health – Youngstown is to extend the compassionate ministry of Jesus by improving the health and well-being of our communities and bring good help to those in need, especially people who are poor, dying and underserved. Learn more atwww.mercy.com.
About the American Diabetes Association
Nearly half of American adults have diabetes or prediabetes; more than 30 million adults and children have diabetes; and every 21 seconds, another individual is diagnosed with diabetes in the U.S. Founded in 1940, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) is the nation’s leading voluntary health organization whose mission is to prevent and cure diabetes, and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. The ADA drives discovery by funding research to treat, manage and prevent all types of diabetes, as well as to search for cures; raises voice to the urgency of the diabetes epidemic; and works to safeguard policies and programs that protect people with diabetes. In addition, the ADA supports people living with diabetes, those at risk of developing diabetes, and the health care professionals who serve them through information and programs that can improve health outcomes and quality of life. For more information, please call the ADA at 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383) or visit diabetes.org. Information from both of these sources is available in English and Spanish. Find us on Facebook (American Diabetes Association), Twitter (@AmDiabetesAssn) and Instagram (@AmDiabetesAssn).
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