Diabetes Self-Management Education: Promoting Healthy Behaviors and Reducing Long-Term Costs

Abstract

Diabetes self-management education has been considered an integral component of clinical management since the 1930’s.1 Through the years, it has evolved from a didactic learning process to one of an empowerment approach.2 It is no longer considered simply “survival skill” education but is geared as an ongoing process of learning the knowledge and skills necessary to promote behavior change and positive health outcomes. Goals of diabetes education include optimizing metabolic control, prevention of acute and chronic complications, and optimizing quality of life while controlling costs.3 Provision of this education process is ideally met through a diabetes educator: a health care professional who has mastered the core of knowledge and skills of diabetes management and who has met the experiential requirements to become a CDE.4