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 When you ask most diabetes educators how they
got involved in the specialty, you will frequently hear them say that they just fell into it and
that they learned their skills on-the-job. Historically, clinicians who are new to diabetes
education have relied on the basic information about diabetes that is included in their various
professional curricula or have used the educational resources created by their predecessors.
It is clear that there is a need for a more standardized approach to the field, and in response,
AADE has been systematically developing the resources that will guide professionals into the field
and help them gather and refine the core knowledge and skills needed to become effective diabetes
educators.
A short time ago, AADE formed a specialized, multidisciplinary team to define the levels of
practitioners and to outline a career path for diabetes educators. The outcome was the recent
development and release of essential practice documents.
The
Guidelines for the Practice of Diabetes Education
clarify and describe the roles and responsibilities of persons involved in the facilitation
and/or delivery of diabetes education and care across a continuum of clinic- and community-based
settings and they suggest a standardized, leveled career path for the diabetes
professional:
- Level 1: Non-Healthcare Professionals
- Level 2: Healthcare Professional/Non-Diabetes Educator
- Level 3: Non-Credentialed Diabetes Educator
- Level 4: Credentialed Diabetes Educator
- Level 5: Advanced Level Diabetes Educator/Clinical Manager (Non-Rx with protocols or Rx)
Read the complete
Guidelines to learn more about what characteristics apply to each of these
levels.
As a companion to the Guidelines, the AADE writing team compiled a list of specific skills,
content and abilities that are needed in the various areas and levels of practice. When refined,
these skills became known as the
Competencies for Diabetes Educators.
The competencies identified in the document are grouped into five main domains:
- Domain I: Pathophysiology, Epidemiology and Clinical Guidelines of Diabetes
- Domain II: Culturally-Competent Supportive Care Across the Lifespan
- Domain III: Teaching and Learning Skills
- Domain IV: Self-Management Education
- Domain V: Program and Business Management
Each domain outlines objectives for each level of practitioner and can serve as a guide for
skill development.
The Competencies fill an essential role in our quest to standardize the field of diabetes
education. They are based on a review of the literature and subsequent consensus development and
can provide an initial framework for clinicians—but they should also serve as a foundation for
further refinement.
Read the
Competencies for Diabetes Educators.
Both of these documents are essential additions to the evidence base for diabetes education and
take important steps in the standardization of the field.
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Read about it in the September/October issue of
The Diabetes Educator: The AADE Education and Research Foundation funded a study of
Medicare and commercial member claims which revealed that people with diabetes who received
diabetes education have lower average health care costs than patients who do not participate in
diabetes education.
The authors studied three years of claims data (2005-2007) from commercial insurance and
Medicare plans that reflect care of 634,645 individuals with diabetes. The researchers compared
claims from those who received diabetes education with those who did not.
According to the analysis, commercially insured patients who received diabetes education cost,
on average, 5.7% less than those who do not receive diabetes education. Medicare patients who
participated in diabetes education cost the health care system 14% less than Medicare patients who
did not participate. Moreover, those who belonged to physician practices that more frequently
referred patients for diabetes education had better overall quality care for their diabetes.
These findings were further corroborated with additional data collection that found in the
commercial population, the average cost of the group that did not receive diabetes education
increased at 7.9% annually, compared with 3.3% for the group that received diabetes education.
Similarly, the Medicare group that did not receive education experienced average annual increases
in cost of 18.2%, compared with 14.5% for the group with diabetes education.
“The study shows that collaboration between diabetes educators and physicians yields positive
clinical quality and cost savings,” said lead researcher Ian Duncan of Solucia Consulting. “If
referral rates to diabetes educators are increased, both cost and quality will be improved."
Read the study in full,
and be sure to widely circulate it!
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According to the CDC, in 2007 over 3.3 million American adults with diabetes reported visual
impairment, that is, trouble seeing even with their glasses or contact lenses on.
Diabetic retinopathy causes an estimated 12,000 to 24,000 new cases of blindness each year and
is the leading cause of new cases of blindness among adults aged 20-74 years. The incidence of
cataracts and glaucoma in persons with diabetes is two times more likely than in the general
population. Lastly, macular degeneration is the leading cause of vision loss in older adults and,
similar to diabetes, is age-related. The above comprise the 4 major eye diseases.
As a result, preventing and living with vision loss can be a major issue for people with
diabetes. There are several helpful resources that can assist diabetes educators in providing
additional preventative and management services and information related to vision health and
rehabilitation.
National Eye Institute
The National Eye Institute publishes a patient education series entitled the
What
You Should Know. These booklets are available in English and Spanish and offer information on
age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma. To obtain audio
versions of these booklets, send an email to
2020@nei.nih.gov. NEI also offers a diabetic eye disease
Eye-Q test.
Glaucoma Screenings
The
Friends of the Congressional Glaucoma
Caucus Foundation, Inc. provides screenings for glaucoma and other eye diseases throughout the
U.S. at no cost to screening participants. There are no set requirements to request the free
screenings other than a good turn out of their target population (aged 40+) and ample space
for their van operation. Diabetes educators are encouraged by FCGCF to access these van screening
services for their chapter community educational events.
To inquire about mobile screening services contact Mr. Vip Patel, Director of Mobile Operations,
at 917-658-9600.
VisionAware.org
Another unique resource for clients who already have vision loss is an online educational
website,
www.visionaware.org, which offers a wide
range of information on living with vision loss and provides information on how to find vision
rehabilitation professionals and related services. They also offer a 16-hour online introductory
course about vision rehabilitation for adults with vision loss, their family members and the
professionals who work with them.
This article was submitted by Debra Sokol-McKay, MS, OTR/L, CDE, CVRT, CLVT, SCLV
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How will you bring diabetes to light?
Each year, AADE works with the international diabetes community to raise awareness about
diabetes at the global level through
World Diabetes Day.
What can you do to raise awareness? Here are some ideas…
The monument challenge
Convince a local landmark or building to “go blue” on November 14. If they have a spotlight
or other type of illumination, then they may be willing to put switch their normal light bulbs to
blue for the day. Last year, more than 1,000 buildings from a total of 99 countries “went blue,”
including these three in the US:
(left to right: Richmond (KY) County Courthouse, Niagara Falls, Mellon Bank in
Philadelphia)
Engaging political support for World Diabetes Day
Another way to show support is by seeking local or state proclamations that mark November 14
as World Diabetes Day. Think about approaching your local governmental representative for an
official message of support. Also, an official signing provides an ideal opportunity to support the
official lighting of a local monument and other awareness-raising activities in your area.
Community action
Show your support by organizing activities such as a diabetes walk, cycle ride,
educational rally or exhibition. These activities can also be linked to an official lighting and/or
the official signing of a proclamation. Recent years have seen a number of human blue circles
organized. It is a simple idea that has great visual impact. Here are some past activities:
 (left to right: Human blue circle in
Mongolia and in the Philippines; and supporters hoisting a blue wreath in Serbia)
Individual action
Can’t find an event near you but want to join in? There are many ways that you can get
involved. Why not illuminate your home in blue or light a blue candle for World Diabetes Day?
Organize a dress-in-blue day for diabetes at your workplace.
Whatever you do, be sure to
register your activity on
the website so that it can be shared with the world and added to the global total of people
who take part. Also, once the day is over, take a picture and upload it to the World Diabetes Day
website.
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 We were saddened to learn of the
death of Lois Ferreri, RN, MEd, CDE, earlier this month.
A member since 1989, Lois wore many hats for AADE. She was one of the founders of the Tri-State
Association of Diabetes Educators (TRIAD) chapter, which covers areas of Pennsylvania, New Jersey
and Delaware.
She was also one of our prominent advocates in both Pennsylvania and Washington, DC during the
1990s and early 2000s. During those years, she helped to pass legislation providing mandated
coverage for diabetes education and supplies. She also regularly convinced her neighbor, then -
U.S. Representative Curt Weldon - to champion legislation seeking Medicare provider status for
CDEs.
We thank Lois for her dedication to AADE and to diabetes educators. She will be greatly
missed.
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The AADE Education and Research Foundation has two grant deadlines coming up.
Applications for our $6,000 collaborative grant with Sigma Theta Tau International for a
research project in the field of diabetes education are due by
Thursday, October 1.
Applications for research on Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) within an existing diabetes
program, are due
Monday, November 2. We are offering two CQI grants at $10,000 each; one grant is
available to a new investigator, the other will be awarded to an experienced researcher.
More information on these opportunities is available on the
AADE website.
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AADE offers the comprehensive, authoritative information and tools that will help you succeed in
your efforts to gain or renew your certification as a diabetes educator.
Our three-day
CORE
Concepts® course is the learning experience that will put it all in perspective. Using case
studies and applied principles, CORE Concepts courses cover strategies and tactics and offers
extensive opportunities for questions and coaching. Courses are being offered in Dallas (October
14-16) and Orlando (October 21-23).
At AADE we’re proud to offer you the support you need to advance and protect your career and
offer the highest quality patient care. As Exam day approaches, you can feel confident in your
knowledge, experience and preparation, and in AADE’s support of you every step of the way.
AADE publications and courses are independent of the NCBDE certification program. Certification
exam questions are not based on any particular book, journal, reference or review course.
Purchasing an AADE product or attending a CORE Concepts course does not guarantee a passing
score.
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An October launch is scheduled for AADE’s new
Fundamentals of Diabetes Care: A Certificate Program for Healthcare Technicians, a
six-module, self-paced online certificate program designed for medical assistants, licensed
practical nurses and other healthcare technicians.
This new program is free to the first 1,500 registrants, and will be $99 for each
additional participant.
Fundamentals of Diabetes Care is an invaluable program that brings together the
information needed to help patients stay safe and prevent complications, helping a broad spectrum
of healthcare providers provide quality care.
The program describes the background and general facts about diabetes and reviews clinical
practice guidelines and outlines how they can be used to direct patient interactions. It
also discusses evidence-based information a diabetes patient needs from the first day of
diagnosis, recommendations for physical activity and monitoring, and tips for working with patients
to set appropriate goals.
Additionally, the program discusses the medications used for diabetes management, basic
strategies to help patients take medications safely, and helps healthcare technicians understand
how hard it is for some people to stay on target with a meal plan.
An online certificate of completion is awarded upon completion of the post-test.
For more information, visit
http://www.diabeteseducator.org/fundamentals.
 The AADE Online Certificate Program is
organized by AADE and funded through a grant from Novo Nordisk as part of its Changing Diabetes®
Leadership Initiative.
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How have you as a diabetes educator made a difference in someone’s life? Email us your
story!
Research proves the value of working with a diabetes educator...but facts and statistics don't
show the personal side. As diabetes educators, you make a difference every day in the lives of
people living with diabetes. We want to hear your story!
AADE is developing a database of compelling member stories that relate directly to your personal
experiences and successes. If you have a story to share, please email
mystory@aadenet.org.
*Stories received by October 16, 2009, will be entered into a drawing for a $100 Visa Gift
Card.
These stories are to be used in promotional and external print materials and electronic
communications.
Please note that by responding to this request, you agree to have your story, name and
credentials used in any AADE print, electronic and/or audio communication. Not all stories
submitted will be used and names and credentials may not always be included in the use of your
submission. Additionally, stories may be used in whole or in part and may be edited for clarity and
grammar.
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If you are interested in health care policy, consider applying to become a Health
Policy Fellow.
Offered by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, this Health Policy Fellows Program is
an outstanding opportunity for exceptional midcareer health professionals and behavioral and social
scientists with an interest in health and health care policy. Fellows experience and participate in
the policy process at the federal level and use that leadership experience to improve health,
health care and health policy.
For more information and to apply,
click
here.
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