The National Certification Board for Diabetes Educators announced that Kenna Glick, Newton Medical Center’s registered dietitian, has achieved Certified Diabetes Educator® status by successfully completing the Certification Examination for Diabetes Educators.

In order to take the examination, candidates must meet rigorous eligibility requirements. Achieving certification status demonstrates to people with diabetes and employers that the health care professional possesses distinct and specialized knowledge, thereby promoting quality of care for people with diabetes. Currently, there are over 18,400 diabetes educators who hold NCBDE certification.

Newton Medical Center (NMC) is proud of Kenna’s accomplishment of earning her CDE status as it demonstrates a level of expertise and competency in the delivery of diabetes education. Kenna has been with NMC for six years where she oversees the dietary needs of inpatients, consults with outpatients and facilitates the Diabetes Self-Management Education Program.

November is recognized nationally as American Diabetes Month, a time to communicate the seriousness of diabetes and the importance of diabetes prevention and control. The first step in knowing if you or a loved one is at risk for Type 2 Diabetes is to take the diabetes risk test.

Factors such as age, gender, race, health history, family history, physical activity and weight help identify those at risk.

An online test or a printable form is available at diabetes.org/are-you-at-risk/diabetes-risk-test. After taking the test, if you scored a five or higher, then it is recommended that you talk with your primary care physician to see if additional testing is needed.

The Diabetes Self-Management Education Program at NMC is approved by the American Diabetes Association and covered by Medicare Part B and some third party insurance providers. Classes are offered monthly with day and evening options. The day class is a one-day session offered on the second and fourth Monday every month from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. The evening class is a two-night session offered on the second Tuesday and Thursday every other month from 6-9 p.m. The program has maintained a 100 percent patient satisfaction rating. The class is a great resource for anyone newly diagnosed or who has lived with diabetes for a while but would like to receive more information on how to control diabetes with a healthy lifestyle. Participation requires a physician-signed referral and will include an individual assessment prior to class. Once you have the referral from your physician, contact the scheduling office at 770-385-4436 to schedule your appointment.

NMC also holds a free support group meeting on the first Monday of every month at 11 a.m. in the auditorium of the Physicians’ Pavilion. Anyone with diabetes is welcome to attend, no RSVP is required.

For more information on the diabetes education program or support group at Newton Medical Center, contact Kenna at 770-385-4185. For general information on diabetes, learn more from the American Diabetes Association at 1-800-DIABETES or stopdiabetes.com.