The evidence is clear: Diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) improves clinical outcomes. What was less defined was the key times when DSMES makes the greatest difference.
In 2015, AADE, the American Diabetes Association and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, along with assistance from the National Diabetes Education Program, issued a joint position statement that defines the four times when a referral for DSMES is needed.
The organizations have taken the next step and created a toolkit to assist diabetes educators and others with sharing the information and recommendations included in the joint position statement.