President’s Message

 

We are Diabetes Education to Atlanta and the surrounding areas. Our patients look to us for the latest information on Eating Healthy, Exercise, Monitoring and Medications. We also help people Reduce Risks, Solve Problems and Cope with this chronic disease. Our coworkers look to us for the latest trends in Diabetes Disease Management, Glucose Control, and Behavior Modification. The community looks to us to help control the spiraling costs of Diabetes Care while compassionately preventing the ravages of Diabetes Complications. We are charged with the mission to “promote healthy living through self-management of diabetes and related conditions.” (AADE website, 2008, www.Diabeteseducator.org)

All of this is important work, however, our mission is not well known outside the diabetes community. We still find people who do not know who we are and what we do. How do we “Make Noise” and become more visible in our community? Events such as EXPO, Sister to Sister, Victory Over Diabetes, Diabetes University, Camp Kudzu; meetings with our legislators and public speaking opportunities are ways for us to make some noise. I am inspired by events so many of you hosted in your places of business. For those who have volunteered for GAADE, DAA, JDRF, Camp and ADA, Thank you!

Finally, our National AADE President and local chapter member, Amparo Gonzalez, urges us to get involved in legislation. This is our final opportunity to pass H.R. 4218 that is the bill that provides reimbursement for diabetes education by diabetes educators on a National level. Reimbursement is vital to the survival of Diabetes Programs all over the country. Go to www.diabeteseducator.org to download the Congressional Spring Break Kit and go visit your legislators. Or tell everyone you know to contact his or her legislators about this bill as soon as possible at www.congress.org.
Thank you!

Lisa Kiblinger RN, MS, CDE
GAADE President