BETH COOK, A registered nurse, registered dietitian and certified diabetes care and education specialist at Aspirus Keweenaw, shows the American Diabetes Association Education Recognition Certificate for diabetes management education. (Submitted photo)

Aspirus Iron River, Aspirus Ironwood and Aspirus Keweenaw Hospitals were recently awarded the American Diabetes Association Education Recognition Certificate for quality diabetes management education programs.

The ADA’s ERP certificate assures that educational services meet national standards for Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support, or DSMES. Services apply for recognition voluntarily and ADA-ERP recognition lasts for four years.

“DSMES is essential part of managing diabetes and is as effective as diabetes medication. Therefore, all people with diabetes benefit from it,” said Barbara Eichorst, the ADA’s vice president of health programs. “We applaud Aspirus Health for its commitment to providing value-based interventions such as DSMES, maximizing corresponding outcomes, and patient experience.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Diabetes Fact Sheet, more than 38 million people, or 11.6%, of the U.S. population has diabetes. While an estimated 29.7 million have been diagnosed, unfortunately 8.7 million people are not aware they have this disease.

Each day, nearly 3,300 Americans are diagnosed with diabetes. Many will first learn they have diabetes when they are treated for one of its life-threatening complications–heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, blindness, nerve disease or amputation. Diabetes is the eighth-leading cause of death in the U.S.–in 2021, it contributed to 399,401 deaths.

The ADA’s Economic Costs of Diabetes in the U.S. in 2022 report confirms diabetes continues to be one of the nation’s most expensive chronic health care conditions, with an estimated cost of diagnosed diabetes of $412.9 billion.

“It is essential that in a rural area, we are able to maintain high standards of care which assures our patients we are providing high quality, comprehensive care with up-to-date clinical resources,” said Beth Cook, a registered nurse, registered dietitian and certified diabetes care and education specialist at Aspirus Keweenaw. “There have been leaps and bounds made in the realm of diabetes care in the last few years with monitoring and medication management, and we are thrilled to provide patients these options at Aspirus Health.”

For more information about diabetes care, Aspirus’ Diabetes Education Center, diabetes self-management group classes, one-on-one appointments, nutrition counseling and monthly support groups, go online to aspirus.org/diabetes-care.

Aspirus Health is a nonprofit, community-directed health system based in Wausau, Wis., serving northeastern Minnesota, northern and central Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The health system operates 18 hospitals and 130 outpatient locations with nearly 14,000 team members, including 1,300 employed physicians and advanced practice clinicians. Learn more at aspirus.org.