The American Diabetes Association provides education and support to people with diabetes through its Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) network nationwide. These services follow the National Standards of Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (NSDSMES). To find a service in your area that is reimbursed by the Medicare and most other insurances, please visit www.diabetes.org/findaprogram.
Understanding that people with diabetes need ongoing support even after attending DSMES, the American Diabetes Association has developed an online community-based Diabetes Support Directory. This Directory provides a listing of high-quality support options that meet the ADA support programming criteria and align with the Standards of Care in Diabetes.
Together with DSMES, community-based support has been linked to improved and reinforced diabetes-related knowledge; self-care skills in areas such as meal planning, physical activity, taking medication, and blood glucose monitoring; and health outcomes.
If an ADA DSMES service is not available in your area, Diabetes Support can also help to connect participants with other diabetes support resources in the community. Diabetes Support is 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 participants.
Our vision:
Communities where people with diabetes learn the skills needed to thrive with this disease through the American Diabetes Association’s Recognized Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) services and remain surrounded by complementary support through community Diabetes Support – creating clinical and community linkages that are proven to have the greatest impact on health.
Support Programs Directory
Research-tested Support have findings that have been published in a peer-reviewed journal. The study must have produced one or more positive behavioral and/or psychosocial outcomes among individuals, communities, or populations. Evidence of these outcomes has been demonstrated in at least one study using an experimental or quasi-experimental design. The Research-tested support listed below meet the ADA criteria for support programming, align with the Standards of Care, and demonstrate significant positive outcomes.
Name of Program: DECIDE: Self-Management Support Program
Program Description:
The goal of DECIDE is to help people learn how to change their behavior so they can better manage their diabetes. Incorporating the seven core diabetes self-management behaviors, the DECIDE program facilitates long-term self-management by teaching patients problem-solving as a key skill for behavior change and for incorporating self-management activities into their everyday lives. DECIDE’s evidence-based outcomes include lower A1C levels, lower blood pressure, lower LDL cholesterol, and better self-care behaviors. Key outcomes also include improved health-related problem-solving skills and diabetes and CVD self-management knowledge. DECIDE provides a structured curriculum that engages patients in a step-by-step process of self-management planning and activation. Problem-based training helps patients apply diabetes self-management in the context of their daily lives and challenges. The DECIDE curriculum is delivered by either health care providers or allied health workers (for example care managers, community health workers), who complete training to become DECIDE Facilitators. The program gives DECIDE Facilitators tools and resources to support behavioral change and coach their patients. You can choose the DECIDE format that’s right for you and your population. People learn differently and have different ways of accessing information. That’s why DECIDE is available in both in-person and online formats, which can be offered separately or in combination. DECIDE is also low-literacy adapted and accessible for people with visual impairment, mild cognitive impairment, and physical impairment.
Program Settings: Virtual Hospital/Outpatient/Health Clinic, Worksite, Church/Religious site, Home, Community/Senior Center, and Telemedicine
Diabetes Focus:
- Type 1 diabetes/19+ years old
- Type 2 diabetes/19+ years old
Languages Offered: English, Spanish
Program Cost/Licensing/Terms of Use: Varies - Leran more.
Contact Information:
Patti Ephraim, MPH
Email: decideprogram@northwell.edu
Phone: 646-766-7178
Website: www.DECIDEprogram.com
Organization: Scripps Whittier Diabetes Institute
Name of Program: Project Dulce
Program Description:
Project Dulce is a DSMS program that relies on peer educators to facilitate group diabetes education. The peer educator is a member of a multidisciplinary healthcare team, and they come from the same community, culture, and speak the same language as the patients. All program topics essential to a DSME program are covered in the curriculum, Diabetes Among Friends, which is also low-literacy and addresses socio-cultural-economic barriers so often faced by patients as they interact with the healthcare system. The curriculum and materials are updated at least annually by clinical professionals to comply with ADA guidelines and reflect best practice.
Program Settings: Hospital/Outpatient/Health Clinic, Community/Senior Center
Diabetes Focus:
- Type 2 diabetes/19+ years old
Languages Offered: English, Spanish
Program Cost/Licensing/Terms of Use: Varies - Learn more.
Contact Information:
Monica Ruiz-Etchings, MA
Email: Ruiz.Monica@scrippshealth.org
Phone: 858-678-7049
Website: www.scripps.org/services/metabolic-conditions/diabetes/project-dulce
Organization: Self-Management Resource Center
Name of Program: SMRC Diabetes Self-Management Program
Program Description:
The Diabetes Self-Management Program, (Programa de Manejo Personal de la Diabetes (Spanish), offered throughout the United States and its territories, are small group, peer led, community-based workshops. Each workshop is 2.5 hours a week for six weeks. While the programs were designed for adults with type 2 diabetes, they are also utilized by those with prediabetes and type 1 diabetes. They are highly interactive and structured so that each participant can tailor the content to their own needs and lifestyle. Better Choices Better Health-Diabetes is the same program offered via the Internet. In all three programs, participants make weekly action plans, share experiences, and help each other solve problems. Each year the content is reviewed and updated to meet current American Diabetes Association's standards.
Program Settings: Hospital/Outpatient/Health Clinic, Worksite, Church/Religious site, RD/CDE practice, Community/Senior Center, Internet
Diabetes Focus:
- Primarily Type 2 diabetes/18+ years old
- Pre-diabetes/18+ years old welcome
- Type 1 diabetes/18+ years old welcome
Languages Offered: English, Spanish, Chinese
Program Cost/Licensing/Terms of Use: Varies - Learn more.
Contact Information:
Dr. Kate Lorig
Email: smrc@selfmanagementresource.com
Phone: 650-242-8040
Website: https://www.selfmanagementresource.com/contact-smrc/
Practice-tested Support have available findings on program impact that are derived from practice in the form of evaluation data or reports. The Practice-tested support listed below meet the ADA criteria for support programming, align with the Standards of Care, and demonstrate positive outcomes.
Organization: Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service
Name of Program: Health Extension for Diabetes
Program Description:
Health Extension for Diabetes is a community-based program delivered by Clemson University Cooperative Extension in partnership with Prisma Health-Upstate. The program provides participants with diabetes the education, resources, and support to better manage their diabetes. The main goal of the program is to empower and reinforce diabetes self-management. Participants will be empowered to improve quality of life, increase awareness of local services, receive up-to-date education, and reduce complications of diabetes. Group members meet every other week for four months to share successes, challenges, and learn the basics about diabetes. During the program, group members also receive ongoing support and health education through weekly phone calls. Education topics include healthy eating, physical activity, and other self-management skills. Group members encourage each other and learn coping and problem-solving strategies they have found to be successful. In addition, participants are provided with resources and assistance navigating the resources for ongoing diabetes self-management support.
Program Settings: Health Clinic/Hospital/Outpatient, Extension sites, Church/Religious Site, Worksite, and Community/Senior Centers
Diabetes Focus:
- Type 1 diabetes/19+ years old
- Type 2 diabetes/19+ years old
Languages Offered: English
Program Cost/Licensing/Terms of Use: Varies - Learn more.
Contact Information:
Janet Evatt
Email: jevatt@clemson.edu
Phone: 864-656-0779
Website: www.clemson.edu/extension/health/programs/health-extension-for-diabetes.html
Organization: Office of Technology Management at the
University of Illinois Chicago
Name of Program: Diabetes Empowerment Education Program™ (DEEP™)
Program Description:
The Diabetes Empowerment Education Program™ (DEEP™) is a diabetes self-management education program (DSME) that was developed to address lack of self-management among ethnic and racial minorities. The DEEP™ model is a trainer model that has shown to be successful in helping participants take control of their diabetes and reduce their risk of complications. DEEP™ has four levels of certification: Peer Educator (PE), Lead Trainer (LT), Senior Trainer (ST), and Senior Master Trainer (SMT).
Trainings cover the contents of the curriculum and reviews concepts of adult education, facilitation techniques, motivational interviewing, and cultural competency. Training starts at 24 hours with additional training time required for each higher level of certification..
The curriculum is 8 modules in length and discusses the types of diabetes, risk factors, self-monitoring, physical activity, nutrition and portion control, diabetes complications, engaging the medical team, medications, psycho-social aspects of diabetes, depression, and self-advocacy. Each module includes lesson content, learning objectives, instructions for implementation and a checklist of materials. The curriculum also includes an implementation guide, weekly action plans, evaluation forms, supplemental information, bibliography, glossary and online resources.
Program Settings: Health Clinic/Hospital/Outpatient, Long-term care facility, Church/Religious Site, Worksite, and Community/Senior Centers
Diabetes Focus:
- Type 2 diabetes/19+ years old
Languages Offered: English, Spanish
Program Cost/Licensing/Terms of Use: Varies - Contact Kateri Castillo Nelis for more information.
Contact Information:
Kateri Castillo Nelis, MS, MPH
Email: nelis@otm.uic.edu
Phone: 312-688-9012
Website: https://otm.uic.edu/deep-program/
Organization: InquisitHealth
Name of Program: Diabetes Peer-to-Peer Mentoring program
Program Description:
InquisitHealth partners with you to deliver individualized DSMS (diabetes self-management support) programs remotely to your patients living with diabetes. We proactively reach out and engage the patients you identify. The program is delivered 1-on-1 through ‘peer mentors’ - these are patients successfully living with diabetes who are trained to help others. Our program focuses on identifying and addressing barriers related to the social determinants of health and behavior change (S+BDoH). A mentor is chosen for each patient based on shared attributes like availability, language, race/ethnicity, and medication type. Together, through 1-on-1 phone-based coaching calls, SMS check-ins in between calls, and video-based educational materials, the mentors help patients fill in knowledge gaps, implement sustainable lifestyle changes, and overcome any personal and social challenges. The entire intervention is delivered via a HIPAA-compliant technology platform. Social determinants requiring additional support and collaboration are escalated securely to your professional staff (e.g., nurses, pharmacists, social workers) and/or vetted community programs. The primary objective of our DSMS intervention is to improve HbA1c sustainably through lasting changes in lifestyle.
Program Settings: Telemedicine
Diabetes Focus:
- Type 1 diabetes/19+ years old
- Type 2 diabetes/19+ years old
Languages Offered: English
Program Cost/Licensing/Terms of Use: Varies - Learn more.
Contact Information:
Dr. Ashwin Patel
Email: ashwin@inquisithealth.com
Phone: 646-893-1418
Website: www.inquisithealth.com
Organization: Gateway Community Health Center, Inc.
Name of Program: Gateway Diabetes Self-Management
Program Description:
Gateway's Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease Self-Management Program was designed to address the seriousness and prevalent chronic health conditions of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The goal of the program is to provide an effective training by utilizing a community-based, and culturally-sensitive approach to empower people towards the prevention and management of diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
The program was developed by incorporating years of experience and eight self-management principles: 1) Active Learning; 2) Goal Setting; 3) Problem Solving; 4) Knowledge; 5) Responsibility; 6) Social Support; 7) Respect; and 8) Skill Building.
The program also promotes participation to make the learning process an enjoyable activity. The program is adaptable to the needs and resources of organizations working towards a common goal of health education and disease management.
The program includes a ten-session course designed to be delivered in a 2-hour session for ten consecutive weeks. The sessions include topics on nutrition, portion control, physical activity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease complications, self-monitoring, medications, and stress management.
Gateway Diabetes Self-Management Program provides facilitators with an extensive guide on the process to conduct the course sessions; in addition, a participant handbook is available to reinforce the course content.
Program Settings: Health Clinic/Community Health Center, Church/Religious Site, Worksite, RD/CDE practice, and Community/Senior Centers
Diabetes Focus:
- Type 2 diabetes/19+ years old
Languages Offered: English, Spanish
Program Cost/Licensing/Terms of Use: Varies - Learn more.
Contact Information:
Otila Garcia
Email: otilag.gateway@tachc.org
Phone: 956-523-3691
Website: https://gatewaychc.com/diabetes-self-management-courses/
Organization: Pack Health
Name of Program: Pack Health Type 2 Diabetes Digital Coaching Program
Program Description:
Pack Health utilizes a digital platform to deliver structured and personalized support that helps patients change behaviors, better manage their chronic conditions, and improve their health. Enrolled patients have no username or password to remember, they simply receive a weekly call from their personal Health Advisor along with digital nudges, sent via text message or email according to the patient’s communication preference. Nudges include reminders and messages of encouragement, evidence-based educational activities, and care coordination services. All calls and nudges included; Health Advisors have 60 scheduled touch points with each patient every 12 weeks. Within this same time frame, the platform collects over 100+ patient-reported outcomes (PROs) using validated survey instruments such as the PHQ-9, PROMIS, Diabetes Distress scale and symptom assessments. PROs are used to track efficacy and personalize coaching, content, and services. The Type 2 Diabetes curriculum is focused primarily on disease understanding, behavior change, overcoming social determinants of health barriers and managing blood sugars.
Program Settings: Virtual, Digital, Telehealth
Diabetes Focus:
- Pre-diabetes/19+ years old
- Type 2 diabetes/19+ years old
Languages Offered: English
Program Cost/Licensing/Terms of Use: Varies - Learn more.
Contact Information:
Dr. Dhiren Patel
Email: dhiren@packhealth.com
Phone: 781-956-3825
Website: packhealth.com
Organization: New Mexico State University
Name of Program: Kitchen Creations: A Cooking School for
People with Diabetes and their Families
Program Description:
Kitchen Creations teaches adults how to plan and cook meals that are balanced to manage diabetes. The series includes four 3-hour sessions on:
- Meal planning
- Balancing carbohydrates
- Vegetables, beans, and grains
- Heart healthy cooking
Participants learn about these topics from a Registered Dietitian, Certified Diabetes Educator, or paraprofessional, as well as from each other. They engage in hands-on activities throughout each session to reinforce what they are learning. An Extension Agent leads them in working together to make 3-5 recipes, which form a healthy meal that models the concepts learned in the session. Participants serve themselves the recommended portions to practice plating balanced meals. They end each session by setting goals and begin the next session by sharing their progress.
Kitchen Creations is easy to adapt to any English- or Spanish-speaking population. The curriculum includes:
- Instructor Guide
- Participant Manual (English or Spanish)
- Two cookbooks with recipes for people with diabetes (selected for each series from ADA cookbooks and an Extension cookbook of modified New Mexico recipes)
- Optional PowerPoint slides (English or Spanish)
- Optional pre-diabetes booklet (English and Spanish)
The information presented in the Participant Manual applies to all people with diabetes. Discussion questions, examples, learning activities, and recipes are chosen with specific communities and cultures in mind. The program is offered successfully in frontier, rural, and urban counties. Most classes are for the general population, but several series are offered to Native American/American Indian, African American/Black, and Hispanic/Latino communities each year.
Program Settings: Health Clinic/Hospital/Outpatient, Church/Religious Site, Worksite, RD/CDE Practice, and Community/Senior Centers
Diabetes Focus:
- Gestational diabetes
- Prediabetes/19+ years old
- Type 1 diabetes/19+ years old
- Type 2 diabetes/19+ years old
Languages Offered: English, Spanish
Program Cost/Licensing/Terms of Use: Varies – contact Cassandra Vanderpool for information
Contact Information:
Cassandra Vanderpool, MS, RDN, LD
Email: cvpool@nmsu.edu
Phone: 575-202-5065
Website: kitchencreations.nmsu.edu
Organization: Texas A&M University | Center for Community Health and Aging
Name of Program: Vivir en Control
Program Description:
Vivir en Control is a culturally sensitive four-week diabetes self-management program targeting Hispanic/Latinos. The program is designed to activate participants so they may better control their diabetes by strengthening their social support environment. Vivir en Control is an evidence-informed curriculum that seeks to improve participants’ diabetes self-care, self-efficacy, and A1C. A focus of Vivir en Control is to address the emotional burden of diabetes.
Vivir en Control classes are approximately two hours long and taught by trained class leaders. An empowerment-based approach is used to create an interactive learning experience delivered with user-friendly information. Lessons include group discussions, meal planning, goal setting, problem-solving and application activities to practice lessons learned.
A unique feature of Vivir en Control is integrating a “care supporter” as part of the program. This person is someone the participant identifies as a person closely involved in their diabetes management. The participant and care supporter partner in class to learn healthy communication skills that are practiced at home. Care supporters are provided resources to aid in their role in supporting the participant.
Vivir en Control has been implemented in a variety of settings, including health clinics and community sites. A fee-based memo of understanding (MOU) agreement is required to adopt the program. After establishing an MOU, a class leader workshop is scheduled for the organization’s staff delivering the program.
Program Settings: Health Clinic/Hospital/Outpatient, Church/Religious Site, Worksite, RD/CDE Practice, and Community/Senior Centers
Diabetes Focus:
- Type 2 Diabetes/19+ years old
- Type 1 Diabetes/19+ years old
- Prediabetes/19+ years old
Languages Offered: English, Spanish, Bilingual
Program Cost/Licensing/Terms of Use: Varies. For more information contact the project director, Dr. Ninfa Peña-Purcell
Contact Information:
Dr. Ninfa Peña-Purcell
Email: ncpurcell@tamu.edu
Organization: Texas A&M University | Center for Community Health and Aging
Name of Program: Live in Control
Program Description:
Live in Control is a four-week diabetes self-management program designed to activate participants so they may better control their diabetes by strengthening their social support environment. Live in Control is an evidence-informed curriculum that seeks to improve participants’ diabetes self-care, self-efficacy, and A1C. A focus of Live in Control is to address the emotional burden of diabetes.
Live in Control classes are approximately two hours long and taught by trained class leaders. An empowerment-based approach is used to create an interactive learning experience delivered with user-friendly information. Lessons include group discussions, meal planning, goal setting, problem-solving and application activities to practice lessons learned.
A unique feature of Live in Control is integrating a “care supporter” as part of the program. This person is someone the participant identifies as a person closely involved in their diabetes management. The participant and care supporter partner in class to learn healthy communication skills that are practiced at home. Care supporters are provided resources to aid in their role in supporting the participant.
Live in Control has been implemented in a variety of settings, including health clinics and community sites. A fee-based memo of understanding (MOU) agreement is required to adopt the program. After establishing an MOU, a class leader workshop is scheduled for the organization’s staff delivering the program.
Program Settings: Health Clinic/Hospital/Outpatient, Church/Religious Site, Worksite, RD/CDE Practice, and Community/Senior Centers
Diabetes Focus:
- Type 2 Diabetes/19+ years old
- Type 1 Diabetes/19+ years old
- Prediabetes/19+ years old
Languages Offered: English
Program Cost/Licensing/Terms of Use: Varies. For more information contact the project director, Dr. Ninfa Peña-Purcell
Contact Information:
Dr. Ninfa Peña-Purcell
Email: ncpurcell@tamu.edu
All information on this website is provided for information purposes only. The information was updated and current as of January 2022, and is subject to future changes without prior notice.