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Diabetes educators review 2012 National Standards
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INDIANAPOLIS — Last revised in 2007, the National Standards for Diabetes Self-Management Education have served as the acceptable guide for providing consistency and quality through the delivery of diabetes education. At the American Association for Diabetes Educators annual meeting, certified diabetes educators discussed the recently updated standards, emphasizing support and a continuum of self-management, as well as a widened criterion for eligible instructors.
One obvious revision includes a change in the standard’s title. Formerly known as the National Standard for Diabetes Self-Management Education, the guide is now known as the National Standard for Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES).
Donna Tomky
Donna Tomky, MSN, RN, C-NP, CDE, FAADE, immediate past-president of the American Association of Diabetes Educators (AADE), nurse practitioner and diabetes educator from ABQ Health Partners in Albuquerque, N.M., said support is a very important part of the change.
“It really defines those activities that assist the person with prediabetes or diabetes in implementing and sustaining the behaviors needed to manage his or her condition on an ongoing basis. It really looks at the continuum instead of just a one-time effort,” Tomky said during a presentation.
Tomky said there were misunderstandings surrounding the 2007 standards so efforts were made to minimize that confusion. Although the input from an advisory group remains important, the standard was amended to indicate that input from stakeholders could be obtained in a variety of ways. Additionally, the 2012 revision allows for an expansion of providers.
The revisions will be co-published in the September/October issues of The Diabetes Educator and Diabetes Care, Tomky said.
Co-presenter Melinda Maryniuk, RD, MEd, CDE, director of clinical education programs for the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston, Mass., and co-chair of the revisions committee said the revisions are aimed to ensure wide applicability and to ensure quality care.
“There are no major changes in the standards, but all of the supporting evidence has been updated to reflect the latest research,” Maryniuk said.
In a survey of 225 public comment reviewers consisting of RNs, RDs, pharmacists, MD/DO/Endo, mental health professionals, and other providers, 82% said the standards were applicable to them, Tomky and Maryniuk said. Additionally, 74% agreed the document was clear. Many of the comments received mentioned satisfaction with a wider focus on support and prevention, while looking for more information.
Other revisions include increased clarity to ensure broad-based relevance in institutional and solo-based providers, an increased attention to behavior change and added examples of who can offer diabetes education, including occupational therapists and certified health education specialists with adequate training and supervision by qualified diabetes educators. – by Samantha Costa
For more information:
Tomky D. #F03. Presented at: The American Association of Diabetes Educators 2012 Annual Meeting & Exhibition. August 1-4, 2012; Indianapolis.
Disclosure: Tomky and Maryniuk report no relevant financial disclosures.