Diabetes self-management education is an important part of a treatment plan. Diabetes self-management education shows you how to incorporate disease management into your daily life and reduce your dependence on a health care provider.
There are three levels of diabetes education:
Basic diabetes management includes the knowledge and skills that a person who is newly diagnosed with diabetes must master before leaving the hospital or health care provider's office. These skills include:
Home management skills will help you better control your diabetes and may prevent complications. These skills include:
After you learn the basic principles of diabetes care and get into a routine (which can take several months), you may be interested in learning more about diabetes. Topics may include:
It's a good idea to repeat diabetes education every year, because there is always new research to find improved ways to treat diabetes.
A certified diabetes educator (CDE) is an excellent resource for information on diabetes. This person is usually a nurse or pharmacist. Often, the diabetes educator can help you develop a management plan based on your:
Some medical centers offer diabetes clinics that specialize in helping patients with diabetes. These clinics often combine the resources of several experts in diabetes management, including a:
These clinics also are a good source of information for people with diabetes.
The American Diabetes Association and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation offer several pamphlets and brochures about diabetes. For information on educational programs and seminars, contact:
See diabetes support groups for a list of several educational and support resources.
American Diabetes Association. Standards of medical care in diabetes -- 201. Diabetes Care. 2011;34:S11-S61.
Updated by: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
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