If you want to get fired up about providing Diabetes Self Management and Education Support (DSMES), the newly updated Standards for DSMES is highly recommended reading. If you don’t have time to read the complete document, we have provided our top 9 takeaways to get you started.

Every 5 years, a committee of diabetes education specialists and advocates gets together to update this roadmap for the provision of DSMES. In the last version of this document, there were ten standards and lots of complicated rules and regulations required to set up a recognized DSMES Program.

In this new version, the collaborative of authors possesses a fresh outlook and clear vision that resulted in six simplified standards with the goal of inclusivity and breaking down barriers.

To address inequities, a candid discussion of racial disparities and social determinants of health is included. In addition, there is recognition that participation in DSMES has lost momentum during the pandemic with stagnant or decreasing enrollment. We need to innovate and make access and participation a top priority to make sure all people have the opportunity to benefit from this knowledge and life-saving information.

Coach Beverly’s 9 Takeaways from updated DSMES Standard.

1. I love the definition they included of a CDCES – “A compassionate teacher and expert who, as an integral member of the care team, provides collaborative, comprehensive, and person-centered care and education for people with diabetes”. This is the best description of our caring expertise and role in improving care.

2. DSMES makes a difference! – Lowers A1c by at least 0.6% with greater A1c reductions when engaging in DSMES of 10 hours or more.  In addition, DSMES has a positive effect on clinical, psychosocial, and behavioral aspects while improving quality of life and coping skills.  Individuals who participate are more likely to engage in self-care through behavior change, including eating healthier eating and regular exercise.

3. Breaking down barriers through recognition of Social Determinants of Health and addressing equity. The authors recognize the need for person-centered services that embrace cultural differences, social determinants of health, and ever-increasing technological engagement platforms and systems. The goal is to increase health equity through access to this critical service while focusing more on person-centered care and decreasing administrative complexities.

4. Recognition of the need for a thoughtful community needs assessment that looks at more than demographics. We still need to gain data from local and national resources to identify race, ethnicity, cultural background, sex, age, geographic location, tech access, and literacy. But just as important are the perceptions of risk associated with diabetes and barriers including socioeconomics, cultural factors, misaligned schedules, and health insurance shortfalls.

5. An important and often underappreciated barrier to DSMES includes perceived lack of need and limited encouragement from health care professionals to engage in DSMES. Plus, special attention needs to be payed to those who do not usually attend clinic appointments to discover their perceived and real barriers.

6. Diabetes Care Community Coordinators are needed to help build bridges between the medical community and the community we serve. These individuals include community health workers and health promoters who live in the community and have familiarity and understanding of the needs and cultural factors of the individuals we are seeking to serve. Diabetes care coordinators also include; dietetic technicians, medical assistants, peer educators, and leaders. They can instruct, reinforce self-management skills, support behavior change, facilitate group discussion and provide social support.

7. Keep the curriculum dynamic and practical. Research endorses the inclusion of practical, problem-solving approaches, collaborative care, consideration of psychosocial issues, and support of behavior change strategies to sustain self-management efforts. In addition, supplementing with resources and support materials can help individuals navigate the health care system and promote self-advocacy.

8. Strategies to increase DSMES participation through provider referrals. Keeping programs vibrant and active is no easy task and requires constant attention. I put together a list of strategies I have used to boost referrals by providers. Direct mail of DSMES flyers to providers, networking during community gatherings, lunch and learn CE activities, hallway conversations, welcome packet for new providers, delivery of referral forms and holiday gifts to offices, and shared participant testimonials.

9. Strategies to increase DSMES participation through self-referrals. We can directly appeal to our community members and then reach out to their providers to approve the referral f. Ideas to touch your community include; publishing articles on hot diabetes topics, sending out press releases, advertising in local papers and on social media, hosting events during National Diabetes Month, joining health fairs, providing community presentations to service organizations, and promoting word of mouth marketing with your graduates.

Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support is a critical components of comprehensive diabetes care. By addressing barriers and including community members in our outreach, we can break down the walls and increase participation and improve the quality of life for all people.

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Want to learn more about this topic? Enroll in our

Setting up a Successful DSME Program Standards Webinar | Level 2 $29 | 1.5 CEs

Recorded & Ready to Watch!

This course provides you with a succinct overview of the latest standards for Diabetes Self-Management Education (DSME) and Support Programs. If you are taking certification exams or considering setting up a DSME program, this program is designed for you. We highlight the newly revised and simplified 2022 Standards and provide strategies on program implementation. In addition, we discuss Medicare Reimbursement and covered benefits. This course provides insights into the exam philosophy and also highlights critical content areas.

Objectives:

1. Describe DSME program examples from across the country.
2. List the six standards for creating a successful DSME program
3. Discuss marketing strategies for success
4. Describe Medicare Reimbursement for diabetes care and education

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Join us for our Virtual DiabetesEd Specialist Conference
30+ CEs | April 13-15, 2022

Whether you are new to diabetes or a seasoned expert, you’ll benefit from this virtual conference with the latest research plus critical content that you can immediately apply to your clinical practice.

If you are seeking a state-of-the-art review of current diabetes care, this course is for you. Our team has been fine-tuning this course for over fifteen years, and we know what you need. This program can also be a great addition to your CDCES or BC-ADM exam study plan.

 Download Course Schedule |  Download Course Flyer

Join us LIVE for this Virtual Course and enjoy a sense of community!

Team of expert faculty includes:

• Diana Isaacs, PharmD, BCPS, BC-ADM, BCACP, CDCES – Educator of the Year, 2020
• Coach Beverly Thomassian, RN, MPH, CDCES, BC-ADM
• Ashley LaBrier, MS, RD, CDCES, Diabetes Program Coordinator

 Download Course Schedule |  Download Course Flyer

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Two Registration Options

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Virtual DiabetesEd Specialist Conference Deluxe | 30+ CEs

Deluxe Option for $499: Virtual Program includes:

• Q & A Session with the instructor after each webinar.
• LIVE Presentations by our team of experts.
• State of the art review of current diabetes care and technology.
• Resources for each session.
• Access to free podcasts and video recordings within a week of each live session for one year.

Deluxe Version includes Syllabus, Standards and Swag*:

• Diabetes Educator Course 2022 Syllabus Hard Copy – over 100 pages -This spiral-bound workbook contains the printed version of all of the instructor’s slides.
• ADA 2022 Standards of Care Book -The ADA Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes is a key resource for healthcare professionals involved in diabetes care, education, and support.
• DiabetesEd Services highlighters, Medication PocketCard, Tote Bag and Pen

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Virtual DiabetesEd Specialist Conference Basic | 30+ CEs

Deluxe Option for $499: Virtual Program includes:

• Q & A Session with the instructor after each webinar.
• LIVE Presentations by our team of experts.
• State of the art review of current diabetes care and technology.
• Resources for each session.
• Access to free podcasts and video recordings within a week of each live session for one year.

Don’t worry if you can’t make it live. Your registration guarantees access to the recorded version in the Online University.

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All hours earned count toward your CDCES Accreditation Information

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