SSEP

SSEP provides the most evidenced based up to date clinical information for providers of women with diabetes during pregnancy.SSEP educational programs are excellent, always utilizing the recent research as well as clinical common sense. The providers who attend are able to return to their health care settings energized and armed with innovative approachs to patient care. Ultimately women with diabetes during pregnancy benefit from the expertise the providers have gained.

SSEP is a great resource for all who work in the field of diabetes and pregancy. SSEP fulfills a need nationwide by training health care professionals in current diabetes and reproductive health issues. It is the only nonprofit organization that is totally focused on diabetes and reproductive issues. I do not know of any organization that has such a focus to improving outcomes for women with diabetes that are contemplating pregnancy or have diagnosed with gestational diabetes

SSEP has been very helpful to me in my work at The Women's Health Center in Newton, NJ. I can always rely on their information when I am counseling Gestational Diabetic patients in the practice. If I have a question about diabetes, I can contact them and know the information I get from them is reliable. I particularly like working wtih Joanne Henry- she is a great representative for SSEP. They certainly, in my opinion, deserve an award for the services they provide, and I would be very sad if they were not able to continue doing this due to lack of funds.
Kathleen Martin, MARD

I can only say good things about SSEP. I was a Registered Dietitian, and Certified Diabetes Educator in the area of Diabetes and Pregnancy for about 25 years and am now retired. Sweet Success was always helpful when I had a question. I would always receive scientific based answers and felt very comfortable sharing my information with my patients and other health care professionals. They were quick to respond to my requests, very accurate and often sent me articles to back up their information. Their information helped me in creating a healthier pregnancies for my patients and decreasing the risk of complications during delivery. I recommend Sweet Success to other Registered Dietitians looking for information regarding Diabetes and Pregnancy.

As a registered dietitian as well as a certified diabetes educator I have worked with SSEP for nearly 10 years on various occassions related to my work. Initially I became aware of them due to word of mouth as their being the "experts" in working with pregnancy and all levels of diabetes. I contacted them and they answered their phone and all my questions. I have since called them on several occassions over the years to gather information, supplies and ask questions. They have always answered their phone and have always been eager to assist. At a prior job a few years ago to were very helpful in getting the group of diabetes educators where I was employed certificated in their Sweet Success GDM program. They arranged for us all -- about 12- to take their program and test as a group for minimal cost. They could have made much more money forcing each of us to purchase all the materials. We got our certificated in a timely basis and everyone got loads of education credits as well. I purchased many materials from them over the years to assist me in working with the Mom's with diabetes. I have found their information to be very user friedly, copy ready and well organized in order to allow someone like myself to quickly make use of it. They periodically send me updates on their program and never ask for money. I feel they are one of the most "family like" groups I have ever dealt with in my 30 year plus career. I recommend to others and brag bout them if I ever have an opportunity. I sincerely believe that our future in this world is dependent on the mothers and their babies and our focus in our system needs to be help them stay strong and healthy and capable of self care at all cost. SSEP is helping save our future through their work with all those of us that guide the mother's and babies as needs arise. I have never had a negative experiece with SSEP through the years. They are not only cutting edge but they are like family and truly care about the future of our families!

SSEP is amazing...they are taking research-based information about pregnancy and diabetes and getting it into the hands of the people that need it! I feel fortunate to work in an organization that already had a program in place modeled on SSEP, but I know there are so many other places that desperately need the kind of support that we receive...education, updates, materials...and SSEP is out there providing it. Kudos to everyone involved in the organization and thank you for all that you do for women, babies, families...really for the next generation as a whole!

The incidence of pre-diabetes and Type 2 diabetes is growing @ dangerously fast rates. The presentations, resources, education materials and out reach efforts by Sweet Success Express is helping to get an early start @ helping reduce the incidence of diabetes by helping with interventions before birth.

The Navajo area IHS Diabetes in Pregnancy coordinators have all adopted the recommendations of the program and have seen improvement in the outcomes @ birth and anticipate great things in the future with reducing &/or the onset of Type 2 Diabetes and pre-diabetes after delivery.

SSEP fulfills a need nationwide by training health care professionals in current diabetes and reproductive health issues. They develop trainings that are presented several times annually at various locations across the nation and co-sponsor research conferences with other institutions. It is the only nonprofit organization that is totally focused on diabetes and reproductive issues.
Updated list of current conferences can be found at http://www.sweetsuccessexpress.com.

I have to concur with everyone else who has written in. if it wasn't for SSEP, I wouldn't be where I am today. I have modeled my program, my data collection and my speaking engagements around SSEP, thereby bringing a collaborative effort to all the hard work in this area. I have enjoyed my connection wiht SSEP over the years and truly value and repect their work. They have been a mentor, role model and support all my efforts as well.

I can, with the utmost confidence, attest to SSEP being a highly worthwhile cause to support. It is well known that we have an epidemic of diabetes and its complications in the U.S. SSEP significantly addresses this problem by providing effective education, tools, and advocacy - to improve outcomes of pregnancy affected by diabetes and the future of mothers' health. Furthermore, SSEP's volunteers are highly conscientious, kind, and have impeccable ethics. Years ago, in an effort to provide excellent care to expectant mothers with diabetes, I attended several seminars - during which time, I was exposed to my first SSEP National Research Conference and one of their training programs. Throughout the sessions, I was struck by the consistent quality and undisputed expertise of the speakers who presented. I also realized and was impressed by the quality of resources SSEP provided - both, for professionals and patients. As a result, I immediately joined as a member. Although my professional role recently has not involved serving moms with diabetes, I very proudly have maintained my membership with SSEP. I also have come to realize the unwavering dedication Joann Henry and her staff have - to make sure the mission of this organization is realized. I know I will work with this population again in the future. Meanwhile, I continue to have access to most up-to-date, quality information and resources available.

SSEP is a terrific organization. Their mission is to improve the lives and outcomes of pregnancy for women with diabetes - either before the pregnancy or diagnosed during pregnancy. The potential implications of this kind of care include preventing birth defects, protecting both mother and baby from developing diabetes later in life, and protecting mothers and babies from unneccesary injury at the time of birth. Diabetes is an issue that is very hard for people to get a handle on -- the treatment may include diet, exercise, and even daily shots! No-one like to hear these kinds of things and they are so hard to change in our lives. Joann Herny and the SSEP staff and volunteers are so sensitive, knowledgeable and kind that it makes it easier to accept the guidance and do the things you have to do to be healthy and protect your baby. I have the highest respect for the professional and personal work that SSEP does that after 10 years of learning from them, I became and Board Member. This organization works hard and does so much with so little funding. It is a great place to consider if you wich to make a donation on behalf of a healthy child in your life or even on behalf of mothers and babies challenged with complications of diabetes in pregnancy.

My first awareness of SSEP was when I attended an excellent diabetes & pregnancy research conference they held in November, 2004. I was impressed with the quality of the speakers and the passion Joann Henry had for helping pregnant women with diabetes deliver healthy babies and live healthy lives. For more than 10 years now, Joann has donated her time to increasing awareness of the problems associated with diabetes & pregnancy on a national level. Not only does SSEP hold the annual research conference in November, they hold trainings in different parts of the country to educate health care professionals who work with pregnant women with diabetes. This is one of the most altruistic organizations with whom I have had the pleasure of being associated.

It is a pleasure to work with such a dedicated program that brings the latest, cutting edge research and information on diabetes and pregnancy to professional providers across the country.

SSEP is an outgrowth of the California Diabetes and Pregnancy Program (CDAPP). It has presented training programs for physicians, nurses, dieticians and social workers regarding the management of diabetes during pregnancy. Included with the programs are literature and manuals so that the local program may establish or modify their own existing protocols and procedures. Attendees' reviews of these conferences have been extremely positive. I think that SSEP makes a valuable contribution to the care of gestationally and pregestationally diabetic women--a growing subgroup of the US obstetric population.

I have been a member of SSEP for many years. Because I work in a small rural community hospital I need support and expertise that the SSEP gives me. Joann Henry, RNC, MSH the SSEP Director has been so helpful to me and my patients. I have used her expert consultation on difficult patients and she has proven to be a wonderful resource. When she didn’t have the answer she was able to ask Dr. Lois Jovanovic who is the expert in the field who is a member of the Advisory Council of SSEP.

I've been a member of SSEP for years. My first exposure to the organization was when it was in its infancy and Dr. Kitzmiller came to our state for a conference sponsored by our state health department. I have utilized the SSEP resources and guidelines for care extensively throughout the years. Their patient education materials may be copied and distributed without fear of copyright infringement. I continue to use the handout on breastfeeding and the handout on postpartum care. I know that my colleague in the outpatient area also depends heavily on SSEP for guidelines in the care of pregnant patients with diabetes.

Diabetes during pregnancy is a serious condition, causing many complications, most of which can be prevented. Sweet Success Diabetes and Pregnancy program was so successful in CA, it needed to be shared with programs in other states. Standards of practice are changing so rapidly that it is difficult for health care professionals to stay current. Therefore, the need was for health care professional education. training. SSEP was implemented to meet this need.