About Diabetes Education

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• Definitions and Fact Sheets

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Definitions and Fact Sheets

Diabetes Education

Diabetes education, also known as diabetes self-management training (DSMT) or diabetes self-management education (DSME), is defined as a collaborative process through which people with or at risk for diabetes gain the knowledge and skills needed to modify behavior and successfully self-manage the disease and its related conditions.

DSMT/DSME is an interactive, ongoing process involving the person with diabetes (or the caregiver or family) and a diabetes educator(s). The intervention aims to achieve optimal health status, better quality of life and reduce the need for costly health care.

Diabetes education focuses on seven self-care behaviors that are essential for improved health status and greater quality of life. The AADE7™ Self-Care Behaviors are:

• Healthy eating
• Being active
• Monitoring
• Taking medication
• Problem solving
• Healthy coping
• Reducing risks

Diabetes Educator

Diabetes education is most often provided by diabetes educators. Diabetes educators are healthcare professionals who focus on educating people with and at risk for diabetes and related conditions achieve behavior change goals which, in turn, lead to better clinical outcomes and improved health status. Diabetes educators apply in-depth knowledge and skills in the biological and social sciences, communication, counseling, and education to provide self-management education/self-management training.

National Diabetes Fact Sheet

Released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2011, it provides national estimates and general information on diabetes and prediabetes.