Ellenville Regional Hospital is pleased to announce the addition of Dawn Scribner, M.S., Registered Dietitian, Certified Diabetes Educator to its staff. Ms. Scribner brings with her a wealth of experience in all aspects of diabetes education, treatment and care, including the training and follow-up care for people who are using insulin pumps. The addition of Scribner has allowed for the expansion of hospital services to include diabetes education by appointment.

Diabetes is an extremely complex disease requiring constant vigilance on the part of the person with the disease. Certified Diabetes Educators are skilled at helping people understand their disease and give them the tools they need to stay healthy and avoid costly and debilitating acute and secondary conditions. P> Diabetes is now widely recognized as one of the top public health threats facing our nation today. Over 17 million Americans are currently living with diabetes, a number that is estimated to increase to 29 million by the year 2050.

Ellenville Regional Hospital has recognized that one solution to this burgeoning problem is to make diabetes self-management training available to its community. Diabetes education is beneficial for all people with diabetes, the newly diagnosed person as well as the person who has had the disease for many years; by helping them identify barriers, facilitate critical thinking and problem solving and develop coping skills to effectively manage their diabetes.

The goal of diabetes self-management training is to achieve measurable behavioral change outcomes in the following areas: meal planning, physical activity, medication administration, blood glucose monitoring, problem solving for sick days, reducing complications, and psychosocial adaptation.

To make an appointment for diabetes education, please call the Nutrition Services Department of Ellenville Regional Hospital at (845) 647-6400 x236.