Under-Utilization of Diabetes Self-Management Education: Ideas on Why and Some Suggested Solutions

Did you ever stop to wonder why the increasing incidence of diabetes does not seem to translate into an increase in the number of people taking part in Diabetes Self-Management Education (DSME)? If so, you are not alone. As part of National Diabetes Month activities, Drs Rui Li and Sundar Shrestha of CDC's Division of Diabetes Translation, which is a part of the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, teamed up with Leslie Kolb and Ruth Lipman from AADE to explore what privately insured adults aged 18 to 64 who were newly diagnosed with diabetes were doing in terms of diabetes management. The results were published in MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Reports)1 and cut to the chase - no surprise to diabetes educators in the field - there is a large gap between recommended guidelines and current practice. 2 references