Resources for Patients with DiabetesResources for Patients with Diabetes

Abstract

The nature of chronic and progressive course of diabetes mellitus implies multitude of daily decisions which need to be made by the patient, who has the disease. In order to make the right decisions, one needs to become familiar with complex areas of diabetes self-management, such as the disease process, basic functions of pancreas, insulin and glucose metabolism, action and side effects of diabetes medications, and others. In addition, certain skills are required for adequate glycemic control. They include self-monitoring of blood glucose, self-administration of various medications – oral, inhalable, and injectable ones – carbohydrate counting, correct treatment, and prevention of acute complications. These as well as many other intricate diabetes-related matters need to be addressed by the patient day after day.

Diabetes Self-Management Education/Training (DSME/T) provides patients with the necessary information and helps to acquire essential skills to optimize the control of their disease. Usually, comprehensive counseling is offered by the diabetes team, which may include physicians, nurses, registered dietitians, exercise physiologists, and other specialists. Often DSME/T is conducted by Certified Diabetes Educators (CDE) – health care professionals who obtained their certification by passing the National Board Examination for Diabetes Educators. Some pre-examination requirements include a minimum of 2 years of professional practice experience in diabetes self-management education and a minimum of 1000 hours of diabetes self-management education experience.