Diabetes Standards of Care & Clinical Practice Resources
Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support
Diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) is an integral part of diabetes care to help patients achieve glycemic control and successful outcomes. DSMES provides knowledge and builds skills and abilities needed for effective self-care through informed decision making, problem solving, and collaboration with the health care team. The goal of DSMES is to improve clinical outcomes, health status, and quality of life for people with diabetes. Ongoing self-management support from the diabetes care team helps individuals sustain behavioral changes as they confront challenges due to aging, lifestyle changes, and progression of the disease process.
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Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support Sections
Quickly jump to a section on this page by clicking on one of the links below.
- Section 1 – Clinical Practice Recommendations: Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support
- Section 2 – Clinician and Educator Resources: Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support
- Section 3 – Patient Education Resources: Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support
Clinical Practice Recommendations
Recommendations for Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support
- Ensure that every person with diabetes receives individualized DSMES at diagnosis and as needed thereafter to achieve treatment goals:
- Deliver high quality DSMES that meets National Standards for Diabetes Self-Management Education. [PDF]
- Provide DSMES that focuses on one or more of the seven domains for diabetes self-management, as defined by the American Association of Diabetes Educators: healthy eating, being active, blood glucose monitoring, taking medications, risk reduction, healthy coping, and problem solving.
DSMES services may be offered through a formal education program or through brief encounters that focus on the individual needs of the patient and/or family member/caregiver. The diabetes care team and the patient use the DSMES process to assess needs, set self-management goals, develop an action plan, and foster active participation in health care decisions. DSMES is a Medicare-reimbursable service when provided by an accredited program. DSMES accredited programs are available in many American Indian and Alaska Native communities.
Clinician and Educator Resources
Food Insecurity Assessment Tool and Resource List [PDF – 153 KB]
Integrating Case Management Into Your Practice [PDF – 290 KB]
Integrating DSMES Into Your Practice [PDF – 275 KB]
Online Catalog: Free Patient/Client Resources
IHS Division of Diabetes Treatment and Prevention
American Diabetes Association Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes – 2020
Diabetes Care 2020;43(Supplement 1):S48-S65. doi:10.2337/dc20-S005
Diabetes Self-management Education and Support in Type 2 Diabetes: A Joint Position Statement of the American Diabetes Association, the American Association of Diabetes Educators, and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics [PDF]
Diabetes Care 2015 Jul; 38(7): 1372-1382. doi: 10.2337/dc15-0730
DSMES Joint Position Statement Toolkit
American Association of Diabetes Educators
2017 National Standards for Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support [PDF]
Diabetes Care 2017 Oct. doi: 10.2337/DCI17-0025
National Certification Board for Diabetes Educators: Certification Information
National Certification Board for Diabetes Educators
Diabetes for Health Professionals
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Diabetes Education Recognition Programs
- Diabetes Education Accreditation Program (DEAP)
- Education Recognition Program
American Association of Diabetes Educators
American Diabetes Association
Patient Education Resources
Online Catalog: Free Patient/Client Resources
IHS Division of Diabetes Treatment and Prevention
American Diabetes Association
4 Steps to Control Your Diabetes For Life
Preventing Diabetes Problems: Keep Your Diabetes Under Control
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
AADE7 Self-Care Behaviors™: Patient Education Resources
American Association of Diabetes Educators