American Diabetes Association Recognizes 36 Hospitals for Excellence in Diabetes Care
On June 4, 2025, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) alongside The Leapfrog Group announced the recognition of 36 hospitals across 12 states as the
2025 Recognized Leaders in Caring for People Living with Diabetes. This prestigious award acknowledges hospitals that have demonstrated exceptional commitment to the safety and well-being of hospitalized patients living with diabetes, a group that represents nearly
30% of all inpatient individuals in the U.S..
This marks the second year of the awards, and notably, the number of recipients has more than doubled from the previous year, reflecting a heightened national commitment to addressing the unique risks faced by diabetes patients in hospitals. According to a statement by
Osagie Ebekozien, MD, MPH, the ADA's chief quality officer, these hospitals stand out for their dedication to patient safety and improved outcomes for those with diabetes.
Every year, around
8 million Americans managing diabetes are hospitalized. While receiving care, these individuals face increased risks for severe complications such as amputations, comas, and, in the most tragic cases, even death. Factors contributing to these risks include errors in medication administration, poor discharge planning, and the potential for hospital-acquired infections. These challenges are especially daunting for patients living with diabetes, underscoring the need for specialized care.
Leah Binder, MA, MGA, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group, pointed out that protecting diabetes patients from medical errors and infections is a significant challenge within American hospitals. She emphasized, "So much can go wrong so quickly," highlighting the importance of maintaining vigilance and safety protocols in the care of these vulnerable individuals.
The
Recognized Leader in Caring for People Living with Diabetes designation serves as the first program of its kind, assessing hospitals on their quality of care from admission through discharge for diabetes patients. This program incorporates the ADA's globally recognized
Standards of Care in Diabetes—2025 and Leapfrog's benchmarks for excellence in patient safety and quality.
Hospitals that have earned this recognition have made substantial strides by implementing systematic measures to ensure high-quality care. These include protocols for blood glucose testing, management of hypoglycemia, specialized preparation for surgeries, personalized meal and insulin regimen planning, and comprehensive discharge planning particularly for high-risk patients. The assessment process evaluates not just the implementation of these vital processes but also the execution quality of standard care given to a random sample of diabetes patients.
The hospitals honored with this recognition span a wide range of regions and facilities, including:
- - California: Eden Medical Center, Eisenhower Medical Center, Loma Linda University Medical Center, and more.
- - Florida: AdventHealth Waterman and Orlando Health South Lake Hospital.
- - New Jersey: Hackensack Meridian Hackensack University Medical Center among others.
- - North Carolina: Novant Health facilities including Matthews Medical Center and Thomasville Medical Center.
- - Texas: Texas Health Huguley Hospital and Titus Regional Medical Center.
With applications for the
2026 recognition opening on July 1 and due by January 31, 2026, both the ADA and The Leapfrog Group encourage hospitals to take the initiative and strive for excellence in diabetes care.
About the American Diabetes Association
The ADA remains the leading voluntary health organization in the United States addressing diabetes and advocating for those affected by it. With a history of 85 years dedicated to fighting this disease, the organization emphasizes discovery, research, advocacy, and education to support the
136 million Americans living with diabetes or prediabetes.
About The Leapfrog Group
Founded in 2000, The Leapfrog Group is a national nonprofit championing patient safety and quality of care in hospitals. They publish safety grades for hospitals based on patient safety metrics and set standards for quality to guide improvements in healthcare delivery.
For more information, interested parties can visit the ADA's official website or connect with the organizations on their respective social media platforms.