Diabetes Education – Now Available to NHS Patients
Northwest Health Services is excited to formally begin offering “D.E.A.R. Services” (Diabetes Education, Advocacy and Resource Services). This is a personalized, individual diabetes education service accredited by the American Association of Diabetes Educators (AADE).
What is D.E.A.R. Services?
Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) is an invaluable component to patients living with diabetes, their families, their health care providers and their quality of care. DSMES is an ongoing, lifelong learning and management strategy that empowers those living with diabetes to achieve new self-management skills. On the surface, DSMES provides education for healthy eating, being active, monitoring blood sugar and insulin training among many other technical care topics.
However, DSMES also provides patients with the support and skills to manage coping with diabetes distress, reducing their risk for complications and the ability to problem solve as their environment changes. Diabetes is a naturally progressing disease with various levels of care and intervention required at different stages. DSMES provides patients the opportunity to gain knowledge and set personalized goals to improve both clinical and behavioral aspects of health.
Why is Diabetes Education and Self-Management Needed?
30.3 million Americans are currently living with Diabetes, 84 million Americans are living with or at risk for pre-diabetes and it is estimated that by 2050, 1 in 3 Americans will be diagnosed with diabetes.1
DSMES focuses on the ongoing process of providing patients and caregivers with the knowledge, skills and abilities that are necessary for diabetes self-care.1 Additionally, DSMES includes activities that assist a person with diabetes in implementing and sustaining the behaviors needed to manage his or her condition on an ongoing basis.1
Diabetes Education has been shown to:1
- Decrease hospital admissions
- Improve A1c by up to 1%
- Reduce the onset/advancement of diabetes complications
- Improve quality of life
- Decrease diabetes related distress and depression
- Improve Healthful eating pattern and regular physical activity
- Increase healthy coping mechanisms
- Improve Quality of Life
- Enhance self-efficacy and empowerment
Do I need Diabetes Education?
Are you living with type 1 or type 2 diabetes? Do you think you may be at risk for type 2 diabetes? Talk to your Northwest Health Services provider about getting a referral to D.E.A.R. Services. Our education staff includes a Registered Nurse and Certified Diabetes Educator and a Registered Dietitian who are ready to assist in setting and maintaining goals to manage diabetes and improve health. Talk to your provider today!
(Left) Aubrey Monical, RD, LD
(Right) Tara Stevenson, RN, BSN, CDE
Works Cited:
- American Diabetes Association. American Association of Diabetes Educators. Diabetes Self-management Education and Support in Type 2 Diabetes. https://www.diabeteseducator.org/docs/default-source/practice/practice-resources/position-statements/dsme_joint_position_statement_2015.pdf?sfvrsn=0 Accessed June 7, 2018.