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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

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Division of Diabetes Treatment and Prevention

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 Standards of Care
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Standards of Care Topics

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Recommendations At-a-Glance
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Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support Sections

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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.

More information

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.