ROCHELLE — The Diabetes Self-Management Education (DSME) Program at Rochelle Community Hospital has been awarded continued Recognition from the American Diabetes Association (ADA).
The RCH program was originally recognized in 2004. This program offers high-quality education services to the patients it serves.
The ADA Education Recognition effort, begun in the fall of 1986, is a voluntary process which assures that approved education programs have met the National Standards for Diabetes Self-Management Education Programs. Programs that achieve Recognition status have a staff of knowledgeable health professionals who can provide state-of-the-art information about diabetes management for participants.
Self-management education is an essential component of diabetes treatment. One consequence of compliance with the National Standards is the greater consistency in the quality and quantity of education offered to people with diabetes. The participant in an ADA Recognized program will be taught, as needed, self-care skills that will promote better management of his or her diabetes treatment regimen. All approved education programs cover the following topics as needed: diabetes disease process; nutritional management; physical activity; medications; monitoring; preventing, detecting, and treating acute complications; preventing, detecting, and treating chronic complications through risk reduction; goal setting and problem solving; psychological adjustment; and preconception care, management during pregnancy, and gestational management.
Assuring high-quality education for patient self-care is one of the primary goals of the Education Recognition program. Through the support of the health care team and increased knowledge and awareness of diabetes, the patient can assume a major part of the responsibility for his/her diabetes management. Unnecessary hospital admissions and some of the acute and chronic complications of diabetes may be prevented through self-management education.
RCH Diabetes Resources
For additional information or to schedule an appointment, please call the Multi-Specialty Clinic at 815-561-0009.

• Diabetic Self-Management Education Program (DSME). This education program is overseen at RCH by Rajni Sud, Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetic Educator. In addition, Janelle Stein, RDE and Cindy Robinson, RN also meet with patients in the program.
A physician referral is required.
• Pre-Diabetes Class. This eight week class is for those who have been diagnosed as pre-diabetic. The class is held in the Health and Wellness Center Conference Room. RCH partners with the University of Illinois Extension Office to provide these classes.
A diagnosis of pre-diabetes is a Hemoglobin A1C between 5.7-6.4% or a fasting blood sugar between 101-125.
A physician referral is required to participate in the classes.
• Monthly Diabetic Support Group. Any diabetic and their caregiver are encouraged to attend our monthly support group on the third Monday of the month at 7 p.m. in the RCH Auxiliary Room. Typically, a speaker is invited to make a presentation on a topic relative to diabetes. Questions are encouraged.
(The group does not meet in August. The December meeting is the annual Christmas party.)
• Free Monthly Diabetes Newsletter. RCH publishes a monthly newsletter for diabetics. It provides information about the topic for the monthly support group, a recipe and upcoming RCH events.
To be added to the mail or email list, call Janet at 815-561-3113 or email jstewart @rcha.net.