About Kristen.
Hi guys! I’m Kristen! I am a Registered Dietitian & Certified Diabetes Care & Education Specialist. I am also wife to Tim, mom to Grace (10) & Sadie (8), ex-D1 college athlete, lacrosse coach, and current crossfitter. I have been an RD since 2007 and a CDCES since 2011. I have over 18 years of experience working with people with diabetes.
My Story
I grew up in Ridley Township, PA, and attended Ridley High School. I went to LaSalle University on a lacrosse scholarship and studied Nutrition. I received my Bachelor of Science in Nutrition in 2006 and jumped right into my career as a clinical dietitian at Mercy Hospital of Philadelphia. It was during my time working in acute care in West Philadelphia that I saw many patients succumbing to complications of diabetes. I remember being so confused, thinking that there must be a better way. I truly did not understand diabetes and it didn’t seem like a lot of the patients I saw did either. What options did they have? What services were out there to educate people with diabetes? While pondering this whole concept and through a conversation with my colleague, an endocrinologist, she asked me why I haven’t thought about becoming a Certified Diabetes Educator (now CDCES)? Huh- what’s that? With a perplexed face, I needed more details.
Within one month, I took on a side job as a diabetes educator for a company that provided diabetes self-management education for those with pre- or type 2 diabetes. Ah- finally in the right place—education! One thousand plus hours of teaching later and a “PASS” on my board exam for Diabetes Care & Education and a new direction in my career was born. Helping people understand diabetes has become my passion.
Making a complicated diagnosis easier is my specialty.
And Empowering you is my ultimate goal.
Let’s do this!