Story Published:
Feb 9, 2010 at 9:49 PM CST
Story Updated:
Feb 9, 2010 at 9:49 PM CST
The National Certification Board for Diabetes Educators (NCBDE) recently announced that Pam Hayes, RN MSN CDE, and Lora Simpson, RD LDN CDE, of the Diabetes Center at Cookeville Regional have renewed the Certified Diabetes Educator® (CDE®) status by successfully completing the continuing education renewal option process.
Candidates must meet rigorous eligibility requirements to be eligible for recertification. Achieving the CDE credential demonstrates that the health care professional possesses distinct and specialized knowledge, thereby promoting quality of care for people with diabetes.
Simpson, a registered dietitian with over 13 years specializing in diabetes education, has been with The Diabetes Center for 12 years. Hayes, a registered nurse and the director of The Diabetes Center, came to Cookeville Regional Medical Center in 1995 to open the Center and has more than 21 years experience educating diabetes patients.
Certified by the American Diabetes Association (ADA), the Diabetes Center provides a diabetes self-management education program providing education for patients that is an essential component of effective diabetes treatments. Diabetes Education is a covered service under Medicare, TennCare and most commercial insurance carriers like Blue Cross/Blue Shield. Diabetes patients are encouraged to speak with their physician about diabetes education.
The Diabetes Center offers Certified Diabetes Educators, one of which is a registered dietitian, with all being certified to provide insulin pump training for your patients.
According to the American Diabetes Association, there are 20.8 million people, or 7% of the population, in the United States who have diabetes.
While an estimated 14.6 million have been diagnosed, unfortunately 6.2 million people are not aware that they have this disease.
Diabetes often goes undiagnosed because many of its symptoms seem so harmless.
Recent studies indicate that the early detection of diabetes symptoms and treatment can decrease the chance of developing the complications of diabetes.
Some diabetes symptoms include:
• Frequent urination
• Excessive thirst
• Extreme hunger
• Unusual weight loss
• Increased fatigue
• Irritability
• Blurry vision
If you have one or more of these diabetes symptoms, see your doctor right away.
You can also take the American Diabetes Association Online Diabetes Risk Test at http://www.diabetes.org/risk-test.jsp to find out if you are at risk for diabetes.
Located at 127 North Oak Avenue, the Diabetes Center may be reached by calling 931-520-7747.
