696-P: The CDC Web-Based Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support Toolkit

Diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) provides an evidence-based approach to empower people with diabetes to navigate self-management decisions and activities, and has been shown to improve health outcomes. Despite the evidence that DSMES services are cost-effective and have a positive impact on diabetes-related outcomes, they are underutilized. To address this problem, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) developed a DSMES toolkit to increase access to and participation in DSMES services among people with diabetes and to promote health care provider referrals. The toolkit explains the process for securing recognition or accreditation of DSMES services. It offers resources to assist in maximizing reimbursement, eliminating barriers to participation, and linking DSMES to quality measures. The toolkit suggests improving access to DSMES through shared medical appointments, pharmacies, and telehealth. It describes the four critical times to refer persons to DSMES and provides tools to assist with making referrals. National experts from the American Diabetes Association and the American Association of Diabetes Educators, certified diabetes educators (CDE), and public health professionals informed the content of the toolkit. Participants from six state health departments; three DSMES services (pharmacy, federally qualified health center, local health department); and experts from the CDC (pharmacist CDE, nurse diabetes educator, project officer, endocrinologist) tested the toolkit and found it easy to use with relevant information that will be helpful in addressing barriers and challenges to improving access to and participation in DSMES. Expanded use of and referrals to DSMES can help ensure that people with diabetes receive the support they need to successfully manage their diabetes and prevent or delay serious and costly complications. The DSMES toolkit can assist diabetes and public health professionals in working together to address underuse of DSMES.