Wednesday, November 27, 2002

Southeastern Primary Care Specialists' diabetes education program merits ADA recognition

If you have diabetes, or you know someone who has diabetes, you are not alone.

According to the American Diabetes Association, there are about 17 million people in the United States who have diabetes. Of those, about 6 million are not aware that they have this disease. Each day approximately 2,740 people are diagnosed with diabetes. Many will first learn that they have diabetes when they are treated for one of its life-threatening complications ­ heart disease and stroke, kidney disease, blindness, nerve disease and amputation. Diabetes is the fifth leading cause of death in the U.S.

To help control diabetes and its complications, Southeastern Primary Care Specialists (Harsch & Osborne, MD, PC) offers a comprehensive Diabetes Self-Management Education Program. The prestigious ADA Recognition Certificate was recently awarded to the program. ADA believes that this program offers high-quality diabetes education that is an essential component of effective diabetes treatment.

"Recognition by the ADA means that our program is educating patients according to the national standards of care," said Joanne Talley, RD, LD, CDE, dietitian and diabetes educator at Southeastern Primary Care Specialists. "And, of course, it assures the consumer that he or she will receive high-quality service."

Southeastern Primary Care Specialists' Diabetes Program is the only program at a physician's office in Atlanta's Southern Crescent to be recognized by the ADA. Classes are held weekly in the convenience of the office at the corner of Ga. highway 85 and 279 on Carnegie Place. An individual assessment of each participant's knowledge level, medical conditions and learning or behavioral goals for the program is completed before classes are attended. Individual follow-up visits may be arranged with the dietitian. A physician's referral is required to attend the Diabetes Program or nutrition services.

For more information or to make an appointment for Southeastern Primary Care Specialists' diabetes program or nutrition services call 770-716-7999.