Diabetes education pays off. But fewer than 60 percent of people with diabetes have had any formal diabetes education. Healthy People 2020 has made increasing that number a priority. That’s because research shows people who have received diabetes education are more likely to:
- Use primary care and preventive services
- Take medications as prescribed
- Control their blood glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol levels
- Have lower health costs
Diabetes self-management training is a benefit covered by Medicare and most health plans when provided by a diabetes care and education specialist within an accredited/recognized program.