Holy Name Press Releases

Holy Name Medical Center to Establich Asian Diabetes Center

February 14, 2011

Program is a response to high incidence of diabetes in Asian community and cultural barriers to care

Teaneck, NJ - Holy Name Medical Center is establishing an Asian Diabetes Center to serve the special needs of the Asian community, the members of which suffer a high incidence of diabetes.  The project, which is directed by HNMC internist Chang Woo Lee, MD, is under the auspices of Holy Name's existing Diabetes Center and its Korean Medical Program.

The Asian Diabetes Center will address the culture-specific obstacles to diagnosis and treatment by providing bilingual healthcare professionals, who will educate people with diabetes and their significant others about:

• Diabetes as a chronic disease process
• Self-management strategies for nutrition and meal planning
• Exercise
• Blood glucose monitoring
• Medications
• Stress management
• Preventive care and risk reduction

Specially targeted initiatives will include group educational sessions, as well as individualized consultation and support from a registered nurse, certified diabetes educator and specialized nutritionist.

Results of a community health screening conducted last year by Holy Name's Korean Medical Program revealed a high rate of diabetes and pre-diabetes among those who participated. Of almost 900 people who received the HGBa1c blood test, the standard measure of blood sugar, 27.5 percent or 246 individuals showed abnormal results. The individuals with high HGBa1c levels were invited back to Holy Name for a seminar scheduled for February 17, 2-4 p.m., at Holy Name Medical Center in the Marian Hall Conference Center. During the event, Dr. Lee will provide education on diabetes self-management techniques. He will also be available to meeting participants for one-on-one consultations.

For more information about the Asian Diabetes Center, please call 201-833-3399.