RN, CDE, CPT
Joanna has been a Registered Nurse since 1988, after completing pre-requisite course work and clinical experiences at The Altoona Hospital School of Nursing in conjunction with Penn State University and Germanna Community College.

Joanna has been certified by the American Association of Diabetes Educators (AADE) since 2004, after completing intensive coursework and two years of clinical experience working with the diabetic population of patients and their families at Piedmont Family Practice and successfully passing a national certification exam. She attends national conferences annually and local seminars regularly to stay abreast of the newest treatment modalities available through both medications and lifestyle modifications of diet and exercise.

Joanna also works with patients and their families in prevention of diabetes and heart disease with counseling for weight loss, cholesterol and blood pressure management as key focuses with the team of physicians, nurse practitioners and staff at Piedmont Primary Care for wellness maintenance.

Services Offered:

• Hypoglycemic Management
• New Type 2 Diabetic Counseling and ongoing assistance to control disease and prevent complications
• Management Assistance of Insulin Usage of Type 1 diabetics
• Metabolic Syndrome (Pre-Diabetes) Management to prevent Diabetes
• High Cholesterol management with diet and exercise as adjunct to RX's
• Hypertension (same as above); Hypotension
• Weight Loss in both children and adults to prevent or overcome obesity
• Weight gain assistance as in eating disorders
• Lactose Intolerant Diet
• Celiac Disease (Gluten/wheat intolerance)
• Monthly support groups for diabetics
• Certified Diabetes Educator
• Certified Pump Trainer

  As a Certified Insulin Pump Trainer, Joanna is able to initiate Insulin pump therapy, using most of the major Insulin pumps, and assist with management of patients coming into our practice already on a pump. Her training also enables her to help patients successfully use CGMS or Continuous Blood Glucose Monitoring System, a device worn with Insulin pumps, to help identify trending of blood glucose levels; this monitor "speaks" to the pump, and gives a read-out to the patient before hypo or hyperglycemia extremes occur.