Theresa Garnero has cared for people with diabetes in almost every capacity over the past 35 years, from the traditional settings (outpatient clinic, community hospital and university settings), to various departments (emergency and intensive care, recovery room, medical-surgical care), to home care and hospice. She has practiced her craft as a certified diabetes care and education specialist, manager and director of diabetes services, and program development designer.
Theresa has a track record of leadership in the field, starting locally as a chapter president of the American Association of Diabetes Educators (AADE) in Monterey, California, and nationally as a member of the AADE Board of Directors (now the ADCES). She founded the non-profit, Dance Out Diabetes, where she brought the clinic to the dance floor for people with all types of diabetes and their family and friends. She also founded the Sweet People Club which aimed to prevent and manage type 2 diabetes through finding a path to wellness. Garnero reviews manuscripts for diabetes-related science journals, including The Diabetes Educator and The Diabetes Spectrum.
As an innovator in the field of diabetes education, she has blazed many trails, forging new ground in non-traditional ways with cartoons and humor, a community-based medical fitness dance program, cultural sensitivity training for diabetes professionals regarding the LGBT community with diabetes, and designing the most comprehensive online diabetes program for healthcare professionals (100 hour-CME).
Theresa has worked with all age groups and types of diabetes. She very much enjoys people and innovative projects that help those living with diabetes, and is a gifted diabetes nurse educator.
“I first try to learn about the person before getting into anything diabetes related. It helps me to be the best educator when I understand what is important in their lives, what they want to learn or accomplish,” explains Theresa. “I most enjoy being witness to people finding a way to live well with diabetes and to feeling better. It is a privilege to work with individuals and their families or circle of support who are interested in their health and to discover what is possible together.”
What do all those initials mean? (hint: a lot of school)
- RN: Registered Nurse
- BC-ADM: Board Certified – Advanced Diabetes Management
- MSN: Master of Science in Nursing
- CDCES: Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist
