Diabetes is a chronic disease that requires continuing medical care and patient self-management to prevent acute complications and to reduce the risk of long-term complications. Diabetes self-management education (DSME) is the ongoing process of facilitating the knowledge, skill, and ability necessary for diabetes self-care. The overall objectives of DSME are to support informed decision-making, self-care behaviours, problem-solving and active collaboration with the health care team and to improve clinical outcomes, health status, and quality of life. The beneficial effects of DSME have been demonstrated in several systematic reviews and meta-analyses.

To support patient education and thereby self-management, different approaches and tools are crucial to improve the engagement of patients. With the rapid growth in the number of people with diabetes globally, new creative approaches and tools for self-management education are urgently needed, addressing the needs of different populations and cultures. We would like to know which new approaches or tools for diabetes self-management education have recently been introduced in your practice. Are these tools well-adjusted for your patients?

What are factors to take into consideration when developing, adapting or introducing new diabetes self-management education tools?

Information about the discussion leader

The discussion will be moderated by Dr Mingzi Li (professor of nursing in Peking University; member of IDF Diabetes Education Consultative Section)

References

1. International Diabetes Federation. International Standards for Diabetes Education [Internet]. Third edition. Brussels, Belgium: IDF; 2009. (also in Spanish, French, Arabic, Chinese, Russian and Turkish)

2. Belton AB. Conversation Maps in Canada: the First 2 Years. Diabetes Spectrum. 2008 Apr 1;21(2):139–42

3. Mehl-Madrona L. Comparisons of Health Education, Group Medical Care, and Collaborative Health Care for Controlling Diabetes. The Permanente Journal. 2010;14(2):4–10.

4. Sperl-Hillen J. Comparative Effectiveness of Patient Education Methods for Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Archives of Internal Medicine. 2011 Dec 12;171(22):2001.

5. Balamurugan A, Hall-Barrow J, Blevins MA, Brech D, Phillips M, Holley E, et al. A pilot study of diabetes education via telemedicine in a rural underserved community--opportunities and challenges: a continuous quality improvement process. Diabetes Educ. 2009 Feb;35(1):147–54.