Reston Hospital

About the Diabetes Education Center

The Reston Hospital Center Diabetes Education Center was founded in 1992 and is proud to be recognized by the American Diabetes Association for our quality education. We care for patients who are at risk for diabetes and those diagnosed with Type 1, Type 2 and Gestational Diabetes. The Center also provides support and education for those with pre-diabetes.

Diabetes Educators are the core of the program-they counsel and teach patients and their families about all aspects of their diabetes and provide them with the tools and knowledge to manage the disease. Registered Dietitians are brought into the mix to educate patients about how a healthy diet can have a positive impact on their diabetes (and how a not so healthy one can have a negative impact). The patient's primary care physician, endocrinologist, or obstetrician in the case of gestational diabetes, are kept involved throughout the process.

The Diabetes Education Center offers classes, individual appointments, support groups and other tools to help you throughout your diabetes management. A physician's referral is required for outpatient diabetes education and meal-planning instruction. Each client is assessed, and goals and objectives are established to meet individual needs. Family members and/or significant others are invited to attend.

What is a Diabetes Educator?

A Diabetes educator is a licensed health professional such as a registered nurse or a registered dietitian who specializes in diabetes education. The education, training and support that the educator's provide are known as diabetes-self management training (DSMT). A Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE) must accumulate practice hours in the field and then take a national exam to become a CDE.

Meet the RHC Diabetes Educators

Holly Anderson, RN, CDE
Diabetes Education Center Coordinator

Holly has worked at RHC since 1995. During her tenure, she has spent time as a nurse on the hospital's surgical unit, and as the hospital's pain resource nurse. She has served as program coordinator since July 2008. She earned her Bachelor's of Science at Radford University and her RN at Marymount. In her spare time, Holly likes to travel with her family, photography, and jewelry-making.

Allison Sherry, RN, BSN

Allison graduated from the University of Delaware with a Bachelor's of Science in Nursing. Upon graduation she worked in the pharmaceutical industry and in corporate development for the American Diabetes Association (ADA). It was during her time at ADA that Allison realized diabetes was her true passion within the healthcare field. Allison has worked as a nurse on an Endocrine and Diabetes Floor in California and is now a diabetes educator for Reston Hospital Center. She continues to volunteer for the American Diabetes Association. When she is not at work she enjoys running, reading and spending time with her family.

Linda Wieland, RN, BSN, RD

Linda wears many hats at RHC. In addition to being the Registered Dietitian for the Diabetes Education Center, assisting as a diabetes educator, she is also the hospital's CPR coordinator. Linda earned her Bachelor's of Science in Nursing from Eastern Illinois University and completed her dietetic internship at Good Samaritan Hospital in Cincinnati. Linda also has a health teaching certificate from George Mason University. She enjoys travel and sports with her husband and sons.

What is a Registered Dietitian?

A registered dietitian is a food and nutrition expert who has met the minimum academic and professional requirements to qualify for the credential "RD." Registered Dietitians are trained in subjects including food and nutrition sciences, foodservice systems management, business, culinary arts, sociology, communications, biochemistry, physiology, microbiology, anatomy and chemistry.

Meet the Diabetes Education Center's Registered Dietitians

Swati Saxena, RD

Swati is a Registered Dietitian with 12 years of experience in the field of Nutrition and Dietetics. She graduated with a degree in Nutrition and Dietetics from Northern Illinois University and went on to complete her Dietetic Internship at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Swati specializes in outpatient nutritional counseling with emphasis on diabetes and nutritional management. She is married with two children and enjoys traveling, reading and scrapbooking.