Talk Diabetes

Talk Diabetes is sponsored by the Diabetes Education Program at St. Anthony’s Medical Center in St. Louis, Missouri. Our mission is to provide effective and state of the art diabetes self-management training in a caring and compassionate manner. Call 314-525-4508 to schedule an appointment.

Our Staff & Authors

We are very proud of our highly trained team. Many of our educators have over twenty years of experience in healthcare and education and all are active members in numerous health associations:
American Diabetes Association
American Association of Diabetes Educators
St. Louis Association of Diabetes Educators
American Dietetic Association
St. Louis Dietetic Association
St. Louis Diabetes Coalition

Nurse Diabetes Educators:
Mary Lawrence, RN, MSN, CDE, Program Manager
I started my nursing career back in the 70’s when physicians and nurses were afraid to treat blood sugars unless they were over 200. My interest in diabetes came from my personal experience with my father who had Type 1 diabetes since he was 17 years old. It has been an amazing journey to witness and participate in the scientific and technological advances that have occurred in the past 30 plus years to improve the lives of patients with diabetes. As a diabetes educator, I was fortunate to attend the IDF (International Diabetes Federation) conference in Montreal, Canada in 2009. Over 200 countries from around the world participated in the conference, confirming that diabetes is a global problem and that there is a world-wide commitment to improve, and hopefully cure, diabetes one day.

Kathy Haarmann, RN, BSN, CDE
I began my career in nursing in 1974 as an intensive care nurse. As time went on I realized my real passion was in educating people in healthy lifestyles. My first teaching work was with patients who had heart disease in cardiac rehab, but in 1988 the opportunity arose to work with patients with diabetes. I have been doing this ever since!
I have filled a variety of roles within the diabetes field including working with blind and visually impaired people in their homes with specially adapted diabetes equipment. Diabetes is a challenging disease, and I enjoy the opportunity to assist individuals to continue to enjoy health with some adaptations to their lifestyles.

Nancy Trebilcock, RN, BSN, CDE
I am a Registered Nurse who earned a Bachelor’s of Science degree in 1973 then worked on an orthopedic hospital unit for 20 years, until 1993. I started working in the diabetes Education field in 1993, earning the Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE) credential in 1996 after being inspired by a wonderful mentor, Eva Carillo, RN Educator, at Christian hospital in north county, St. Louis. I spent 12 years doing diabetes education in the Madison County, Illinois area. I joined the talented, passionate Diabetes & Nutrition Education Department at St. Anthony’s Medical Center in 2009. I am inspired everyday by the patients we meet who are committed to improving their health.

Dietitian Diabetes Educators:
Elizabeth Patton, MS, RD, LD, CDE
I graduated with my Bachelors and Masters degrees in Nutrition and Dietetics from Murray State University in Kentucky and started practicing as a dietitian in St. Louis in 2007. I am very passionate about the ever-evolving science of nutrition, health, fitness, food, and health and nutrition technology. I love seeing interested patients learn and apply new knowledge to improve their health and well-being. It’s very rewarding to be present and supportive in their journey. In my spare time I also enjoy many creative ventures like fashion, decorating and art (and of course, cooking and exercise)!

Judy Schmitt, RD, LD, CDE
I became a Registered Dietitian in 1973, and for some 25 years, worked in home health care in St. Louis, as well as St. Clair, Madison and Monroe Counties of Illinois. I would make home-visits to  folks recovering from recent hospitalizations, and many times visits were to teach healthy eating to people with newly diagnosed diabetes. I discovered how much people wanted and needed to know in order to manage their diabetes, and became a Certified Diabetes Educator in 1984. Helping people is rewarding. Now, since 2001, I have worked with St. Anthony’s Diabetes Education Services, enjoying the continued opportunity to help people in the outpatient setting.

Cathy Feldmeier, RD, LD
I have been a registered dietitian since 1980 and have worked at St. Anthony’s since 1991. I see patients both in the outpatient setting and in the acute care setting in the hospital. I love the challenge of helping motivated patients make positive changes in their lifestyles. In 2006 I and another of the St. Anthony’s dietitians developed a 6-week weight control/healthy eating program called A Newtritious You! that is still presented at the hospital three times a year. In my spare time I enjoy travelling, reading and playing the piano.

Diane Schreiber, RD, LD
I have been practicing as a clinical RD in the hospital setting since 1987. My current role is to cover all positions in the acute care area of the hospital or in the Diabetes Education program. I have always enjoyed clinical dietetics, because I really enjoy helping people. I enjoy meeting new people daily and teaching them information that will help them improve their health. The smile on a patient’s face as they learn something new to help themselves is why I do what I do!

Support Staff
Kim Sparkman, Operations Assistant
I started my healthcare career as a Pharmacy Technician in my hometown of Danville,Virginia in 1984. I relocated to Missouri with my husband in 2001 and continued in healthcare with Anesthesia Associates of Jefferson County as a medical coder. In 2005, I graduated with a certificate of Professional Medical Coding from Jefferson College in Hillsboro, Missouri and began my career with St. Anthony’s Medical Center in 2006. I have a wonderful husband and one beautiful daughter. In my spare time I tap dance with a group called the Step Sisters and I’m an active member of the Hillsboro Community Civic Center.

If you don’t know someone who has been affected by diabetes yet, you probably will during your lifetime. Millions of Americans are diagnosed with diabetes everyday. I look forward to being an asset to the Diabetes & Nutrition Education Program by providing excellent customer service to all our patients, everyday.

Our Volunteers
We also have several volunteers who not only help us with much-needed office duties, but are advocates of the commitment to lifelong learning and care of diabetes!