Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support in Type 2 Diabetes

DIABETES IS A CHRONIC DISEASE that requires a person with diabetes to make a multitude of daily self-management decisions
and to perform complex care activities. Diabetes self-management education and support (DSME/S) provides the foundation to help people with diabetes to navigate these decisions and activities and has been shown to improve health outcomes.1-7 Diabetes self-management education (DSME) is the process of facilitating the knowledge, skill, and ability necessary for diabetes self-care.

Diabetes self-management
support (DSMS) refers to the support that is required for implementing and sustaining coping skills and behaviors needed to self-manage
on an ongoing basis. (See further definitions in Figure 1.) Although different members of the health care team and community can contribute
to this process, it is important for health care providers and their practice settings to have the resources and a systematic referral process to
ensure that patients with type 2 diabetes receive both DSME and DSMS in a consistent manner. The initial DSME is typically provided by a health professional, whereas ongoing support can be provided by personnel within a practice and a variety of community based resources. DSME/S programs are designed to address the patient’s health beliefs, cultural needs, current knowledge, physical limitations, emotional concerns, family support, financial status, medical history, health literacy, numeracy, and other factors that influence each person’s ability to meet the challenges of self-management. It is the position of the American Diabetes Association (ADA) that all individuals with diabetes receive DSME/S at diagnosis and as needed thereafter.8 This position statement focuses on the particular needs of individuals with type 2 diabetes. The needs will be similar to those of people with other types of diabetes (type 1 diabetes, prediabetes, and gestational diabetes mellitus); however, the research and examples referred to in this article focus on type 2 diabetes. The goals of the position statement are ultimately to improve the patient experience of care and education, to improve the health of individuals and populations, and to reduce diabetes-associated per capita health care costs.9 The use of the diabetes education algorithm presented in this position statement defines when, what, and how DSME/S should be provided for adults with type 2 diabetes.

Read more:

Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support in Type 2 Diabetes A Joint Position