Classes approved by the American Diabetes Association

It's a mark of distinction for a diabetes-education class to be officially "recognized" by the American Diabetes Association (ADA). Indeed, some health-insurance plans (including Medicare) will pay only for courses that carry this seal of approval.

Below are 51 programs in the eight-county Philadelphia region that pass muster.

Most offer 10 hours of instruction about medicines and monitors, nutrition, physical activity and other facets of managing diabetes.

The courses are designed for diabetics, but some doctors now encourage pre-diabetic patients to attend to learn strategies for preventing or delaying the illness. Students with pre-diabetes may have to pay some charges out of pocket.

You can find ADA-recognized classes outside the eight-county region on the association's Web site, www.diabetes.org. Enter your ZIP code in the "Local Events & Information" box on the home page and click on "Go." Then, click on "Find a Recognized Education Program" to search for classes held in and near your ZIP code.

Philadelphia

Albert Einstein Healthcare Network, 5501 Old York Road. Living with Diabetes, 215-456-6839.

Aria Health Frankford Hospitals, Frankford campus, Frankford Avenue & Wakeling Street, 215-831-2122.

Aria Health Frankford Hospitals, Torresdale campus, Knights & Red Lion roads, 215-831-2122.

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Diabetes Center for Children, 34th Street & Civic Center Blvd., 267-426-0271.

JFK Southwest Medical Clinic, 3001 Walnut St. An ABC Diabetes Programs course, 215-283-2833.

Northeastern Hospital, 2301 E. Allegheny Ave. An ABC Diabetes Program course, 215-283-2833.

Pennsylvania Hospital Diabetes Education Center, 800 Spruce St., 1st floor Ayer building, 215-829-5725.

Nazareth Hospital, 2601 Holme Ave. An ABC Diabetes Program course, 215-283-2833.

Roxborough Memorial Hospital, 5800 Ridge Ave. An ABC Diabetes Program course, 215-283-2833.

University of Pennsylvania's Penn Rodebaugh Diabetes Center Education Program, 4 Penn Tower, 3400 Spruce St., 215-662-3661.

Bucks County

Abington Memorial Hospital Diabetes Center's Warminster campus, 225 Newtown Road, Warminster, 215-672-0899.

Aria Health Frankford Hospitals' Bucks campus, 380 North Oxford Valley Road, Langhorne, 215-831-2122.

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Specialty Care Center in Bucks County, 500 W. Butler Ave., Chalfont, 267-426-0271.

Doylestown Hospital Diabetes Self-Management Education Program, 595 W. State St., Doylestown, 215-345-2172.

Grand View Hospital, 700 Lawn Ave., Sellersville. An ABC Diabetes Program course, 215-283-2833.

Lower Bucks Hospital, 501 Bath Road, Bristol, An ABC Diabetes Program course, 215-283-2833.

St. Luke's Hospital, 1025 Park Ave., Quakertown, 215-538-4575.

St. Mary Medical Center Diabetes Self-Management Education Program, 1201 Langhorne-Newtown Road, Langhorne, 215-710-5812.

Chester County

Brandywine Hospital Diabetes Self-Management Education Program, 201 Reeceville Road, Coatesville, 610-383-8358.

Chester County Hospital Outpatient Diabetes Self-Management Program, 701 E. Marshall St., West Chester, 610-738-2839.

Jennersville Regional Hospital Diabetes Self-Management Education Program, 1015 W. Baltimore Pike, West Grove, 610-869-1379.

Main Line Health Paoli Hospital, 255 West Lancaster Ave., Paoli, 610-560-8020.

Main Line Health diabetes education at the ACAC Fitness and Wellness Center, 1130 McDermott Dr., West Chester, 610-560-8020.

Phoenixville Hospital Diabetes Self-Management Education Program, 140 Nutt Road, Phoenixville, 610-983-1288.

Delaware County

Crozer Keystone Health System Center for Diabetes at Springfield Hospital, 190 W. Sproul Road, Springfield, 610-328-8920.

Crozer Keystone Health System Center for Diabetes at the Crozer Medical Plaza at Briton Lake, 300 Evergreen Drive, Glen Mills, 610-579-3400.

Main Line Health Bryn Mawr Hospital, 3855 West Chester Pike, Newtown Square, 484-337-6065.

Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital, 1500 Lansdowne Ave., Darby. An ABC Diabetes Program course, 215-283-2833.

Riddle Memorial Hospital Diabetes Self-Management Education Program, 1068 West Baltimore Pike, Media, 610-891-3769.

Montgomery County

ABC Diabetes Programs, Diabetes Self-Management Education, 714 N. Bethlehem Pike, Suite 300, Lower Gwynedd, 215-283-2833.

Abington Memorial Hospital Diabetes Center, Northwood Building, Suite E, 2729 Blair Mill Road, Willow Grove, 215-672-0899.

Central Montgomery Medical Center, 100 Medical Campus Drive, Lansdale. ABC Diabetes Program course, 215-283-2833.

Chestnut Hill Health System, 8601 Stenton Ave., Wyndmoor. An ABC Diabetes Program course, 215-283-2833.

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Specialty Care Center in King of Prussia, 210 Mall Blvd., King of Prussia, 267-426-0271.

Holy Redeemer Health System Diabetes Self-Management Education Program, 1648 Huntingdon Pike, Meadowbrook, 215-938-3715.

Main Line Health Lankenau Hospital, 100 Lancaster Ave., Wynnewood, 610-645-8477.

Main Line Health Center Upper Providence, 599 Arcola Road, Collegeville, 610-560-8020.

Mercy Suburban Hospital, 2701 DeKalb Pike, Norristown. An ABC Diabetes Program course, 215-283-2833.

Montgomery Hospital Medical Center Diabetes Education Center, 1301 Powell St., Norristown, 610-270-2301.

Montgomery Hospital Medical Center Diabetes Education Center at Endocrine Associates, 633 W. Germantown Pike, Suite 105, Plymouth Meeting, 610-941-6799.

Pottstown Memorial Medical Center Diabetes Self-Management Education Program, 1600 E. High St., Pottstown, 610-327-7463.

Burlington County

Virtua Health-Virtua Memorial Hospital, 175 Madison Avenue, Mount Holly, N.J., 888-847-8823.

Camden County

CAMcare Health Corporation Diabetes Management Program, 817 Federal St., Camden, 856-541-8217.

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Specialty Care Center in Voorhees, 1012 Laurel Oak Road, Voorhees, N.J., 267-426-0271.Cooper University Hospital Diabetes Center, 1210 Brace Road, Suite 107, Cherry Hill, 856-321-0012.

Kennedy Health System-Cherry Hill, 2201 Chapel Ave. West, Cherry Hill, 856-309-7730.

Kennedy Health System-Somerdale, 1 Somerdale Square, Somerdale, N.J., 856-309-7730.

Virtua Health-Virtua Camden, 1000 Atlantic Ave., Camden, 888-847-8823.

Virtua Health-Virtua Voorhees, 106 Carnie Blvd., Voorhees, N.J., 888-847-8823.

Gloucester County

Kennedy Health System-Washington Township, 445 Hurffville-Crosskeys Road, Sewell, N.J., 856-218-5732.

Underwood-Memorial Hospital, Diabetes Self-Management Education Program, 509 N. Broad St., Woodbury, N.J., 856-853-2141.