American society could save lives, improve well-being and even save on health-care costs if it placed more emphasis on diabetes prevention, according to Jill Olausson, B.S.N., R.N., C.D.E.
 Jill Olausson (Photo of Thomas Brown) |
City of Hope’s newest certified diabetes educator in the Department of Clinical Diabetes, Endocrinology & Metabolism, Olausson believes in the power of lifestyle change. At home both in clinical research and community outreach, she puts proven lessons about disease prevention into practice.
“People with pre-diabetes can actively take steps to keep from developing type 2 diabetes,” said Olausson. “With healthy eating and exercise, patients can manage the process and prevent complications.”
Olausson is excited about working with patients and other diabetes professionals at City of Hope, which is more than 3,000 miles away from her previous post: the Diabetes Center at Memorial Hospital in North Conway, N.H.
“Coming to City of Hope is an opportunity for growth,” she said. “I’m looking forward to helping to build the Department of Clinical Diabetes, Endocrinology & Metabolism into a center of excellence, participating in research and pursuing nursing magnet status.”
As part of her education mission, she now oversees City of Hope’s Diabetes Education Program, a series of classes recognized by the American Diabetes Association. These classes, which are held at the Leslie & Susan Gonda (Goldschmied) Diabetes & Genetic Research Center, will resume in May.
The classes will expand and grow, Olausson said, emphasizing diabetes prevention in adults and children through nutrition and physical activity. They will educate people with diabetes about avoiding complications and find ways to motivate people to make lifestyle changes while having fun.
She also will boost clinical services by overseeing an insulin pump and glucose sensor program and helping those with diabetes manage their medications.
Olausson is pursuing a master’s degree in nursing leadership and management and plans to pursue a doctorate in population sciences. She and her family live in Claremont, Calif.
