Kim Hanchette, founder of Diabetes Management Solutions, has worked in direct patient health for 28 years. She received her Master's degree in Adult Health Education. A Certified Diabetes Educator since 1991, she worked for Diabetes Treatment Centers of America on an inpatient and outpatient team, teaching diabetes self-management, counseling patients and families, managing the outpatient diabetes self-management education program and facilitating support groups.
In 2000, out of frustration over the fact that people outside urban cities in North Carolina had no access to diabetes self-management classes, Kim developed the idea for a nonprofit organization that would address this desperate need for diabetes education and support in underserved communities and populations. Diabetes Management Solutions was born and now maintains The Diabetes Bus Initiative, a mobile diabetes education program which provides free diabetes self-management classes to several rural North Carolina communities via primary physician offices and hospitals.
Kim developed a unique teaching model that promotes a comfortable rapport and uses a non-threatening approach to diabetes self-management. She incorporates practical diabetes skills, lifestyle goals that measurably impact diabetes outcomes and peer support that empower people learning together. This model is the basis for the Diabetes Bus classes taught by several diabetes educators around North Carolina. Diabetes health outcomes continue to prove that the Diabetes Bus model is improving hemoglobin A1c's, reducing complications, and increasing patient self-confidence with diabetes skills.
Kim has spoken at many diabetes conferences and meetings including the TCOYD (Taking Care of Your Diabetes) conferences, the UNC School Of Nursing Diabetes Update Workshop. She has been a speaker at the International American Association of Diabetes Educators Meeting and is the current President of the Research Triangle Area Diabetes Educators group.
In February, 2006, the American Diabetes Association awarded Kim the annual “Patient Care Award” for her efforts on behalf of North Carolinians with diabetes. In Feb 2007, Kim was awarded Triangle Business Journal's "Healthcare Hero Award" for her service to the diabetes community. In April, 2008, The Diabetes Bus Initiative was the featured story on CNBC's dlife TV show.
Based in Raleigh, North Carolina, Kim lives with her husband, Dave, her son in high school, and she has a daughter attending college and several pets.