The Diabetes Education Center (DEC) at Pennsylvania Hospital was established in 1990 to provide education, training and support for individuals with diabetes and their family members, as well as the professional health care community served by Pennsylvania Hospital.
The Diabetes Education Center is recognized by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) as a center that provides the highest quality of care and education to all who participate in the program. The most recent recognition was achieved from the American Diabetes Association for the period July 6, 2017 to July 6, 2021. The ADA is the nation’s leading non-profit health organization supporting diabetes research, advocacy and information for healthcare professionals, patients and the public.
Recognized Standards or Guidelines for Practice
The American Diabetes Association’s Education Recognition Program assures that the educational program at the Pennsylvania Hospital Diabetes Education Center meets the National Standards for Diabetes Self-Management Education Programs. These standards include: healthy eating, medication management, physical activity, checking blood glucose levels, problem solving, reducing risks and health coping.
National Diabetes Prevention Program (NDPP)
The National Diabetes Prevention Program is a year-long program for patients who are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes. The program is facilitated by certified life coaches skilled and knowledgeable in preventing type 2 diabetes. This curriculum was created by the Center for Disease Control to help facilitate patients to make healthy food choices and commit to 150 minutes of physical activity weekly. The goal is to lose 5 to 7% of total body weight over a one-year period. Research has shown that this program helps to prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes.
Anyone at risk for pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes is eligible for the program. Risk factors include:
- Being overweight
- 45 years of age or older
- Having a parent or sibling who has type 2 diabetes
- Being physically active less than 3 times a week
- History of having diabetes while pregnant (gestational diabetes)
- Being African American, Hispanic/Latino American, Pacific Islander or Asian American
If you have any of these risks, have been told by your doctor that you have pre-diabetes or are “on the border” and are ready to make changes, this program is for you!