Diabetes Care and Education Specialists
Diabetes care and education specialists are an essential part of any diabetes health care team. They provide evidence-based diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) services and help people live well with diabetes. They also can play an important role in helping people prevent type 2 diabetes. CDC has developed a toolkit and training to help you implement DSMES services and resources for working with specific populations.
DSMES Services
DSMES helps people manage diabetes by teaching practical skills and personalized strategies to improve health outcomes. Diabetes care and education specialists can use CDC resources to help increase access and ensure quality services.
- Discover CDC’s DSMES website for health care providers to learn when and how people with diabetes can benefit from participating.
- The DSMES Toolkit is a comprehensive collection of tools and resources for promoting, implementing, and supporting DSMES.
- Expanded use of DSMES can help ensure that all people with diabetes receive the support they need. Encourage people with diabetes to go to their health care provider for a referral to DSMES services. Find DSMES services recognized by the American Diabetes Association or accredited by the Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists (ADCES). Make sure your individual services or your organization’s services are listed.
Prevention of Type 2 Diabetes
Prediabetes can lead to type 2 diabetes and also increases risk for heart attack and stroke, but it doesn’t have to. Diabetes care and education specialists can help people take steps to reverse prediabetes or slow the onset of type 2 diabetes through the National Diabetes Prevention Program (National DPP) lifestyle change program.
- Learn about this evidence-based program.
- Find out how your organization can offer the National DPP lifestyle change program to prevent type 2 diabetes.
- Already implementing a program? Find resources and support at National DPP Customer Service Center.