King’s Daughters Medical Center was recently recognized as an accredited diabetes education program by the American Association of Diabetes Educators.

This will allow residents in and around southwest Mississippi increased access to critical diabetes education services.

Diabetes education is a collaborative process through which people with diabetes or at risk for diabetes gain the knowledge and skills needed to modify behavior and successfully self-manage the disease and its related conditions.

“We are so excited to provide this program for our community,” program director Amy Case said. “This program is part of our commitment to the community and provides education and training to manage diabetes.”

Chief nursing officer Cheri Walker said, “People in southwest Mississippi who have diabetes no longer need to travel out of town to receive education and training that helps them manage their condition. It is our hope that easier access means a greater impact on our community,” Walker added.

“Trends show that diabetes education is moving out of the hospital and into the community, so AADE’s accreditation program was created, in part, to encourage diabetes education where the patient is seeking care,” said Leslie E. Kolb, RN, BSN, MBA, program director, Diabetes Education Accreditation Program.

“King’s Daughters Medical Center is exactly the type of program we envisioned when we set up our accreditation program in 2009.”

For more information about diabetic education classes, contact Case at 601-835-9118.