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Practice Resources

The AADE7 Self-Care Behaviors: The Framework for Optimal Self-Management

AADE7 Self-Care Behaviors

A person-centered approach to diabetes, prediabetes and cardiometabolic care means acknowledging the whole person in the context of their life and relationships. The AADE7 – healthy coping, healthy eating, being active, taking medication, monitoring, reducing risk, problem solving -  form the framework for diabetes care and education specialists to partner with people with diabetes, prediabetes and cardiometabolic conditions  to support informed decision making. By using these behaviors as a foundation for your practice, you can go beyond education, to partner on successful behavior change that is outcomes-driven using person-centered, self-determined goals. 

Perspectives in Practice 

An Effective Model of Diabetes Care and Education: Revising the AADE7 Self-Care Behaviors®

Technology and advances in science and management continue to shape diabetes, prediabetes and cardiometabolic care. The Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists evaluated the AADE7, to update the behaviors in the context of a shifting digital and dynamic healthcare landscape.

AADE7 Practice Paper

Key points addressed in this paper:

  1. Based on additional research and practice, diabetes self-management education and support has evolved beyond knowledge and behavior change to focus on quality of life and person-centered approach to management, education and care.
  2. Diabetes care and education specialists can provide the element of human touch to identify appropriate candidates and tools, provide training, and facilitate the ongoing use of technology and the information they offer.
  3. The AADE7 Self-Care behaviors overlap in nature, specifically the knowledge and skills to master them, the barriers associated with their mastery, and associated outcomes.
  4. Because healthy coping must begin before learning can occur, this behavior is centrally located at the core of the updated image representing the AADE7 self-care behaviors to symbolize its significance in sustainable diabetes self-management.
  5. The AADE7 Self-Care Behaviors provides a practical model that informs decision making among individuals living with diabetes and related conditions and the members of their healthcare team in their shared drive for improved health and quality of life.
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The Huddle: Conversations with the Diabetes Care Team

The Huddle is available on all major podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and Stitcher. Listen to previous episodes of The Huddle. 

Resources for People with Diabetes

Help your clients understand each behavior and how it affects their self-management. Download and print these handouts for your practice or share them with clients online. For additional information, visit DiabetesEducator.org/BehaviorChange. Sponsored by Lilly Diabetes. 


Healthy Coping

aade7_icons_healthycoping
Available in 
Spanish/Español

 Healthy Eating

aade7_icons_healthyeating

Available in 
Spanish/Español

​

Being Active 

aade7_icons_beingactive

Available in
Spanish/Español

Taking Medications 

aade7_icons_takingmeds

Available in 
Spanish/Español

 

Monitoring 

aade7_icons_monitoring

Available in 
Spanish/Español

Problem Solving

aade7_icons_problemsolving

Available in 
Spanish/Español

Reducing Risks 

aade7_icons_reducingrisks

Available in 
Spanish/Español

 

Publications

AADE Diabetes Education Curriculum: A Guide to Successful Self-Management, 2nd Edition

Whether teaching one-on-one or in groups, ADCES’ diabetes education curriculum includes the evidence-based clinical information and teaching and patient resources you need to individualize your diabetes self-management education and support program service. Based on the AADE7 Self-Care Behaviors, the curriculum contains an implementation guide and 8 instructional modules.

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Online Courses

AADE7 Self-Care Behaviors Online Training Series

Learn the evidence-based framework of the seven key behaviors essential to providing successful diabetes self-management education and support. If you are a quality coordinator for a DSMES service a diabetes education program, this is a great way to meet the staff training requirement.

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ADCES in Practice

Every issue of ADCES in Practice contains articles that directly relate to all AADE7 Self-Care Behaviors. Check out a few below or explore more from ADCES in Practice. 

Effectiveness of a Diabetes Education Intervention in a Faith-Based Organization Utilizing the AADE7
Ruby Sheree Miller, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC; Dell Mars, PhD, RN
First Published January 29, 2020

Camp “Whatsasugar”
Janice Marienau, BSN, RN, CDE
First Published January 29, 2020 

An Innovative Approach to Using the AADE7 and Group Medical Visits
Ruby Sheree Miller, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC
First Published October 23, 2017 

Teaching AADE7 to Bedside Nurses Using Theme-Based Workshops
Deborah Martin, BSN, RN, CDE, CDTC, CPT; Peggy Archuleta, BSN, RN, CDE
First Published June 21, 2016 

The Diabetes Educator CoverThe Diabetes Educator Journal

Find articles that relate to the AADE7 Self-Care Behaviors or explore more from The Diabetes Educator. 

2017 National Standards for Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support
Beck, et al.
First Published December 24, 2019 

An Evaluation of a Diabetes Self-Management Education (DSME) Intervention Delivered Using Avatar-Based Technology: Certified Diabetes Educators’ Ratings and Perceptions
Joanne Duncan-Carnesciali, EdD, CDE, ACSM RCEP, CHES, NBC-HWC; Barbara C. Wallace, PhD, LCSW; Michelle Odlum, EdD, RN
First Published April 12, 2018

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