Our Open Hand team is proud to announce that we've been accredited by the Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialist (ADCES) to provide quality diabetes self-management education and support. 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 throughout Georgia. We’ve offered Medical Nutrition Therapy for many years for patients living with diabetes and in the last year we added Diabetes Self-Management to our program offerings. We are so excited to offer both one-on-one and group diabetes education and are so proud to have earned this accreditation!
ADCES and American Diabetes Association are the only 2 accrediting bodies for Diabetes Self-Management Programs. To be accredited, you must have a RDN, RN, or pharmacist teaching the program and this person must have 15 hours of diabetes education annually or have their certification as a CDCES (Certified Diabetes Care & Education Specialist). Open Hand proudly has six RDNs available to lead our program, one of which is also a CDCES!
Last year, participants in our Diabetes Self-Management Education (DSME) were empowered by their incredible results. For example, after the workshop no one reported daily high blood sugar, and participants reported greater confidence in their self-management abilities. As one participant noted:
“[DSME] was very helpful. I feel more empowered to do a better job planning my meals and generally more in control. The [registered dietitian nutritionists] teaching the class were excellent and encouraging... I am very grateful for the opportunity to have attended this workshop.”
We're excited to continue to offer our diabetes education in person and virtually to the local community as an accredited program, and to make tangible, positive health impacts on our neighbors living with diabetes. If you're interested in learning more or taking one of these group education classes, email nutrition@openhandatlanta.org.