Saint Francis Hospital has received certification from the American Diabetes Association's Education Recognition Program, affirming the quality of diabetes education and support services offered at the Hartford hospital and at Trinity Health Of New England Medical Group locations in Enfield and Prospect.

The ADA's Education Recognition Program certifies that diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) services meet the national standards for the program. Recognition is valid for four years and is pursued voluntarily. Evidence links participation in DSMES to reduced onset or progression of diabetes-related complications, healthier meal planning, physical activity, weight management, and fewer emergency department visits, hospital admissions, and readmissions. The ADA has served as a national accrediting organization for DSMES since 1986.

The recognition comes against a significant public health backdrop. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 40 million Americans have diabetes, with 11 million unaware of their diagnosis. Nearly 3,300 Americans are diagnosed each day, many first learning of the disease when treated for complications including heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, blindness, nerve disease, or amputation.

"DSMES is an essential part of managing diabetes and is as effective as diabetes medication. Therefore, all people with diabetes benefit from it," said Barbara Eichorst, MS, RD, CDCES, ADA Vice President of Health Programs. "We applaud Saint Francis Hospital for its commitment to providing value-based interventions such as DSMES, maximizing corresponding outcomes and patient experience."

Saint Francis Hospital’s certification arrives as diabetes education access remains a pressing concern: the CDC's January 2026 National Diabetes Statistics Report estimates that 27.6% of American adults with diabetes are undiagnosed, and DSMES remains widely underused despite its documented clinical benefits. The ADA's updated 2025 Standards of Care now frame DSMES as a continuous, personalized process rather than a one-time intervention, lending added weight to Saint Francis's three-site recognition across central Connecticut.