Managing Diabetes

If you are one of the millions of people living with diabetes, we have good news. Participating in a self-management education (SME) program can help you manage your diabetes, prevent complications, and take control of diabetes symptoms such as tiredness, pain, and depression. Find out how an SME program can help you learn more and feel better.

Diabetes-Specific SME Programs

Diabetes Self-Management Education and Training (DSME/T)

Cost: Varies by organization; often covered by health insurance.
Format: In person, in the community.

Diabetes Self-Management Education and Training (DSME/T) programs provides knowledge and skills for people who want to manage their type 2 diabetes and related conditions. Diabetes educators conduct each program, which addresses the needs, goals, and life experiences of people with diabetes. This program teaches you how to eat healthy, be active, monitor blood sugar levels, take medication, problem solve, reduce risk for other health conditions, and cope with your disease.

Visit the American Association of Diabetes Educators website to learn more about Diabetes Self-Management Education and Training (DSME/T).

Diabetes Self-Management Program

Cost: Varies by organization, rarely more than $50.
Format: In-person workshop.

The Diabetes Self-Management Program (DSMP) is a 6-week group program for people with type 2 diabetes. Developed by Stanford University, this program can help you deal with the symptoms of diabetes— including tiredness, pain, and emotional issues—by helping you learn how to eat and sleep better, manage your day-to-day activities more effectively, and more. This interactive workshop meets for 2.5 hours per week for 6 weeks in convenient community locations.  It is led by trained leaders, at least one of whom has a chronic condition.

Topics include:

• Techniques to deal with the symptoms of diabetes— fatigue, pain, hyper/hypoglycemia, stress, and emotional problems such as depression, anger, fear, and frustration.
• Appropriate exercise for maintaining and improving strength and endurance.
• Healthy eating.
• Taking medications as prescribed.
• Working more effectively with health care providers.

Visit the Stanford website to learn more about the Diabetes Self-Management Program. Locate a program in your area on the Evidence-Based Leadership Council website.

 

Programa de Manejo Personal de la Diabetes (Spanish Diabetes Self-Management Program) (SDSMP)

Cost: Varies by organization, rarely more than $50.
Format: In-person workshop.

Programa de Manejo Personal de la Diabetes, also known as Spanish Diabetes Self-Management Program, is a 6-week group program for Spanish-speaking people with type 2 diabetes. Developed by Stanford University, this program can help you deal with the symptoms of diabetes— including tiredness, pain, and emotional issues—by helping you learn how to eat and sleep better, manage your day-to-day activities more effectively, and more.  All the workshop sessions are held in Spanish. It is very similar to the Diabetes Self-Management Program (DSMP), but was developed to be culturally appropriate for Spanish speaking adults.  The interactive workshops are held for 2.5  hours per week in convenient community locations.

Topics include:

• Techniques to deal with the symptoms of diabetes– fatigue, pain, hyper/hypoglycemia, stress, and emotional problems such as depression, anger, fear, and frustration.
• Appropriate exercise for maintaining and improving strength and endurance.
• Healthy eating.
• Taking medications as prescribed.
• Working more effectively with health care providers.

Visit the Stanford website to learn more about the Programa de Manejo Personal de la Diabetes. Locate a program in your area on the Evidence-Based Leadership Council website.

General Chronic Disease SME Programs

In addition to the diabetes-specific programs above, the SME programs that follow are for people with any chronic health condition, including diabetes.

Chronic Disease Self-Management Program

Cost: Varies by organization, rarely more than $50.
Format: In-person workshop.

The Chronic Disease Self-Management Program is a 6-week interactive workshop for people with all types of chronic conditions. This course, developed by Stanford University, can help people with one or more chronic conditions learn the strategies to manage your condition and have the confidence to carry them out. This interactive workshop meets for 2.5 hours per week for 6 weeks in convenient community locations. It is led by trained leaders, at least one of whom has a chronic condition. This workshop is known by a variety of different names, including Living Well. It also is available in Spanish.

Subjects covered include:

• Techniques to deal with problems such as frustration, fatigue, pain and isolation.
• Appropriate exercise for maintaining and improving strength, flexibility, and endurance.
• Appropriate use of medications.
• Communicating effectively with family, friends, and health professionals.
• Managing depression.
• Better breathing techniques.
• Relaxation techniques.
• Healthy eating habits.
• Making good decisions about your health.
• How to evaluate new treatments.

Visit the Stanford website to learn more about the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program.Locate organizations licensed to offer the program in your area on the Evidence-Based Leadership Council website.

Chronic Disease Self-Management Program: Tool Kit for Active Living

Cost: $43.96.
Format: Self-study toolkit.

The Chronic Disease Self-Management Program Tool Kit for Active Living provides much of the same information as the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP) in a self-study format that you can receive by mail. The tool kit helps you construct your own self management plan to deal with your chronic condition(s) through exercise, and strategies to reduce stress, fatigue, pain and other symptoms. It encourages goal setting, action planning, and thinking and acting proactively. You can work through the toolkit at your own pace, focusing on areas most important to you. Also available in Spanish.

The self-study kit includes:

• The workbook Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Conditions.
• Information Sheets briefly describing common problems and helpful solutions.
• A self-test that helps you identify elements and set priorities for a personal self-management plan.
• Action Plan description with instruction and examples for developing unique plan.
• Exercise Action Plan with hints and instruction on use of the other exercise and activity materials, Relaxation CD and Exercise CD.

Visit the Stanford website to learn more about the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program: Tool Kit for Active Living.

Tomando Control de su Salud

Cost: Varies by organization, usually less than $50.
Format: In-person workshop.

This course, developed by Stanford University, is a 6-week interactive workshop for Spanish speaking adults with all types of chronic conditions. If you have one or more chronic condition, this program can help you learn the strategies and skills to manage your health and your condition(s) more effectively and live your everyday life. All the workshop sessions are held in Spanish. It is very similar to the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP), but was developed to be culturally appropriate for Spanish speaking adults. Workshop sessions are held for 2.5 hours per week for 6 weeks at convenient community locations.

Topics include:

• Techniques to deal with problems such as frustration, fatigue, pain and isolation.
• Appropriate exercise for maintaining and improving strength, flexibility, and endurance.
• Managing depression.
• Appropriate use of medications.
• Communicating effectively with family, friends, and health professionals.
• Healthy eating habits.
• Better breathing techniques.
• Relaxation techniques.
• Appropriate use of the health care system.
• Making good decisions about your health.
• How to evaluate new treatments.

Visit the Stanford website to learn more about the Tomando Control de su Salud.Locate organizations licensed to offer the program in your area on the Evidence-Based Leadership Council website.

 

Learn More about Diabetes

• Chronic Disease Information In Your State
• American Diabetes Association
• CDC Diabetes Information