OGDENSBURG — Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center’s Diabetes Self-Management Education Services (DSMES) has again earned the American Diabetes Association (ADA) Education Recognition Certificate.

CHMC offers the only ADA-recognized DSMES program in the North Country.

The ADA’s Education Recognition Certificate assures that educational services meet the National Standards for Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES).

CHMC uses evidence-based curriculums for its programming. Offered are individual and group DSMES, based on the American Association of Diabetes Educators (AADE) American Diabetes Education and Care Curriculum. CHMC provides individual counseling and group classes for pre-diabetes using the CDC’s NDPP curriculum. Additional evidence-based programs offered by CHMC include Stanford University’s Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP) and its Diabetes Self-Management Program (DSMP). CHMC also provides a monthly diabetes support group, “Checkers,” that meets on the third Thursday of each month and a Healthy Lifestyles support group that meets on the first Thursday of each month. Presently all group programs are being held virtually due to COVID. Individual education is offered in person or through a secured telehealth platform.

CHMC provides the NDPP, CDSMP and DSMP free of charge, as well as it’s monthly support groups. Most insurances cover individual and group DSMES programs.

CHMC’s Lions International Diabetes Education Suite, funded with a grant from Lions Club International, provides a state-of-the-art technology platform and a comfortable learning atmosphere to deliver diabetes programming. CHMC’s diabetes education staff include Certified Diabetes Education and Care Specialist, Shannon VanHouse, RN, Michele Catlin, diabetes education paraprofessional, and CHMC’s Dr. Michael Seidman oversees the diabetes education programs.