Diabetes Pro Quarterly - Fall 2019 - 4

PROFESSIONAL NEWS

Association Launches Diabetes Support Initiative
The American Diabetes Association
(ADA) is working to help ADArecognized diabetes self-management
education and support programs
(DSMES) identify high-quality support
curriculums and resources for their
communities.
Diabetes support programs provide ongoing support to people with diabetes to
maintain and expand the skills, knowledge, and lifestyle changes they gain
from recognized DSMES programs. In
conjunction with formal DSMES, support
programs have been linked to expanded
diabetes-related knowledge; strengthened self-care skills in areas such as meal
planning, physical activity, medication
taking, and blood glucose monitoring;
and improved health outcomes.
Support programs are often held in
community-based settings (e.g., clinics,
churches, or community organizations)
and are frequently peer-led by individuals
who speak the language, share the culture, and come from the same communities as their program participants. The

benefits of community diabetes support
programs include the following.
* Linking to credible support programs
helps ADA-recognized DSMES programs meet standards for maintaining
their recognition status.
* Support programs help to reinforce and
expand participants' behavioral modification and self-management skills
beyond formal DSME training.
* Support programs can fill the gap when
patients are out of insurance-covered
DSMES hours but still need help.
* Support programs can also increase
referrals to DSMES programs.
Access to and awareness of support programming is often low in high-risk communities. To address this gap and better
meet the needs of patients, the ADA has
developed its Diabetes Support Initiative.
The initiative features an online Diabetes
Support Directory to connect health
professionals and community-based
organizations to high-quality resources.
Curriculums listed in the directory meet

the ADA's criteria for support programming, align with its Standards of Medical
Care in Diabetes, and demonstrate significant positive outcomes. Through future
grant opportunities, the ADA also will
seek to provide direct financial support in
communities with the greatest needs.
Does your organization offer a patient
support group? If so, consider using one
of the support curriculums available
through the Diabetes Support Directory
and applying for grant funding. Do you
work with community partners interested in implementing a diabetes support
program? If so, help them link to the
curriculum options available through
the Diabetes Support Directory that
are best suited for participants in your
community.
For more information, visit professional.
diabetes.org/DSDirectory or contact
Caroline Blanco at cblanco@ diabetes.org.
The Diabetes Support Initiative is supported by: Prince Hall Shriners and Lon
V. Smith Foundation.

THE VOICE OF

WOMEN
IN DIABETES

The Women's Interprofessional Network of
the American Diabetes Association (WIN
ADA) is the world's leading network of female
clinicians, scientists, and educators in diabetes.
WIN ADA offers a variety of members-only
career advancement opportunities, including:
◆ Professional development workshops
◆ Networking receptions
◆ An annual event at the Association's

Scientific Sessions

◆ Recognition programs
◆ Online resources

Join today at professional.diabetes.org/winada
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http://professional.diabetes.org/DSDirectory http://professional.diabetes.org/DSDirectory http://professional.diabetes.org/winada

Diabetes Pro Quarterly - Fall 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Diabetes Pro Quarterly - Fall 2019