Role of Primary Care Practitioner in DSMT

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Diabetes self-management education/training (DSMET) is cost-effective and improves health outcomes as patients maintain better control of their A1C. Diabetes educators provide education/training services and enable physicians to provide comprehensive high-quality care for their patients with diabetes and those at high risk of developing diabetes. The primary care practitioner in DSMT provides general medical care and is responsible for overall care, including the coordination of medical specialists.

Role of Primary Care Practitioner in DSMT

Diabetes educators bring a unique skill set to the physician‘s practice and are important adjuncts to primary care. These educators:

• help patients with diabetes develop the skills for managing their illnesses.
• increase a practice‘s efficiency by assuming time-consuming patient training, counseling, and follow-up duties.
• serve as an extension of the physician‘s practice
• to enhance the quality of care delivered.

Diabetes educators are nurses, pharmacists, dietitians, and other healthcare professionals with special training in diabetes care who counsel patients on how to incorporate healthy behaviors into their lives.

Diabetes self-management education/training is an interactive, collaborative, ongoing process involving the person with diabetes (or the caregiver or families) and a diabetes educator(s). Diabetes self-management education/training addresses 7 self-care behaviors known as the AADE7™. These behaviors are Healthy Eating, Being Active, Monitoring, Taking Medication, Problem-solving, Healthy coping, and Reducing risk.