Diabetes Self-Management Program recognized by ADA

The American Diabetes Association has renewed its Education Recognition for the Diabetes Self-Management Program at the University of Florida College of Medicine-Jacksonville.

The ADA has awarded Education Recognition to 13 programs in Jacksonville – four at UF&Shands clinics and a fifth at Shands Jacksonville Medical Center.

The ADA recognizes programs that teach patients to manage their chronic diabetes by showing them how to eat right, test their own blood sugar and generally live a more healthy lifestyle to keep symptoms in check.

"It means the patients get access to improved care, it’s better quality and better outcomes are expected," said Kenyatta Y. Lee, M.D., assistant medical director of the UF Soutel Family Practice and Pediatric Center.

Lee, also an assistant professor of commnity health and family medicine, is part of an ongoing ADA grant tracking various medical statistics for diabetes patients to see if conditions improve with regular doctor visits and classes on how to manage your own symptoms.