Mercy's Center For Endocrinology's Diabetes Prevention Program Receives Full CDC Recognition

The Center for Endocrinology at Mercy Medical Center has earned CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Full Recognition for its Diabetes Prevention Program, a distinction which remains valid through Oct. 31st, 2020. Reserved for programs that have effective delivered a quality, evidence-based program that meets all of the necessary CDC standards, the Full Recognition designation is one that payers and employers look for when selecting providers.

“The sustained success of your lifestyle change program makes an invaluable contribution to the prevention of type 2 diabetes, both in your community and nationally. We appreciate your participation in the National Diabetes Prevention Program, and we are committed to working with you to do everything we can to ensure your continued success as a critical member of our national effort,” wrote Ann Albright, PhD, RDN, Director, Division of Diabetes Translation, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, in a letter to Susan Gustavsson, RN, BSN, CDE, Diabetes Nurse Educator at The Center for Endocrinology at Mercy.

According to Gustavsson, Mercy’s Diabetes Prevention Program targets diet, encouraging healthier food choices, increasing physical activity and exercise, teaching portion control, and managing stress, as ways to help patients reduce their body weight.

“To receive the CDC Full Recognition status, our program had to show it used CDC-approved curriculum and that our staff had the necessary training. We needed to provide documentation that program participants were followed for more than a year and offer proof that the program was effective in helping them avoid developing diabetes, such as showing a weight loss of at least five percent,” she said.

As a CDC-recognized organization, having achieved CDC Full Recognition status, Mercy Medical Center can enroll in Medicare as Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program (MDPP) suppliers.

“CDC recognition is testament to the efficacy of Mercy’s Diabetes Prevention Program and reflects our success in diabetes management,” said Ms. Gustavsson said. “With diabetes reaching near epidemic proportions in our country, it’s more important than ever to take steps to prevent diabetes, including the development and implementation of programs like ours.”

According to CDC figures, more than 30 million people  in the U.S. have diabetes and about 84 million people over the age of 18 are at risk for diabetes; 40 percent of adults will develop type 2 diabetes. Healthcare costs for people with diabetes are more than two times higher than for those who do not have this disease, Gustavsson explained.