Diabetes Center

Diabetes: The specialized treatment team approach

Diabetes can be a very complex disease. Life-threatening complications range from heart disease, stroke and blindness to kidney disease, nerve disease and amputations. Continuing to set new standards in health care, Sharon Regional developed its Diabetes Center, which is located at 2395 Garden Way, Hermitage.

The Center offers individualized treatment programs and education for those with:

• Adult onset diabetes
• Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes
• Pregnancy-related diabetes
  
  Sharon Regional's specialized treatment team provides diabetics and their families with the following services:
  
  - Diabetic education
  - Insulin pump therapy
  - Diabetic nutritional counseling
  - Diabetic counseling through Sharon Regional's Behavioral Health Services
   
  

Diabetes Center staff specialty certified

Physician specialists at the Center include endocrinologist Anne LaRochelle, M.D., along with nurse practitioner Colleen Pomaro, CRNP. Dr. LaRochelle along with Pomaro offer treatment for Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes, pregnancy-related diabetes, thyroid disorders, osteoporosis, cholesterol disorders, polycystic ovarian syndrome, and other endocrinology and metabolism disorders.

Lisa Bertolasio, RN, MS,CDE, serves as coordinator of the program that is recognized by the American Diabetes Association. Additional diabetes educators include Jennifer Engelhardt, RN, CDE, a certified insulin pump trainer, and registered dietitian Mike Libbey RD, CDE, LDN. Together, the team of certified diabetes educators has over 35 years experience in working with individuals who have diabetes.

Click here for an interactive look at how diabetes affects the body

Learn more about Diabetes from our online Health Library

Programs:

Diabetes Self-management Classes are offered at several convenient times:

• Evening series at the Diabetes Center
• Afternoon series at the Diabetes Center
  
• Weekend series at the Diabetes Center
  

Classes provide the person with diabetes an opportunity to learn about diabetes, how to monitor blood glucoses, meal planning, physical activity, goal setting to promote health, and how to prevent complications. A physician referral is required to attend.

Diabetes Education and Nutrition Counseling are now available at the Mercer Family Medicine Center.

For more information about Sharon Regional's Diabetes Center or specialized treatment team, please call 724-981-6551 or e-mail diabetescenter@srhs-pa.org