Diabetes training and education
The Georgia Department of Public Health provides training and support for pharmacists engaged in diabetes care
Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES)
Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) services enable participants to manage their diabetes and be as healthy as possible by gaining the knowledge and skills needed to modify their self-care behaviors. Participants learn to manage their diabetes through healthy behaviors and problem solving during individual and group sessions with a diabetes educator.
Pharmacists are a part of a group of licensed healthcare professionals who are qualified to provide DSMES. Lessons include information on healthy eating, being active, effective monitoring, taking medications, problem solving, reducing risk, and healthy coping. Studies show that diabetes education helps people lower their blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels, take medications as prescribed, and have lower health costs.
DSMES is essential for lowering the burden of diabetes in Georgia; however, there are currently only 110 accredited/recognized DSMES services in Georgia. This number is insufficient to serve the population with diabetes.
Pharmacies are able to become accredited/recognized by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) or the Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists (ADCES) and bill for DSMES services. The diabetes education accreditation/recognition programs from ADA and ADCES follow the evidence-based National Standards for DSMES. Pharmacies can partner with the Georgia Pharmacy Association and the Georgia Department of Public Health to achieve accreditation/recognition for DSMES. Contact Allison Smith, Allison.Smith@dph.ga.gov to find our more information.
CLICK HERE for more resources on DSMES.
Diabetes Prevention Lifestyle Change Programs (DPP)
Diabetes Prevention Lifestyle Change Programs (National DPP): A CDC-recognized lifestyle change program is a structured program—in person or online—developed specifically to prevent type 2 diabetes. It is designed for people who have prediabetes or are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes, but who do not already have diabetes. A lifestyle change program is a year-long program led by a trained Lifestyle coach. The program focuses on healthy eating choices, increasing physical activity, coping skills, stress management, and problem-solving. During the first 6 months of the program, participants meet on a weekly basis and transition to monthly meetings for the last 6 months. The goals of this program should focus on moderate changes in both diet and physical activity to achieve modest weight loss in the range of 5% to 10% of baseline body weight.
Key components of the program include:
- The health system representative(s) will be trained as a lifestyle coach and receive specialized training to lead the program. This will help the participants learn new skills, encourage them to maintain goals, and keep them motivated. The coach will facilitate discussions and help make the program fun and engaging.
- CDC-approved curriculum with lessons, handouts, and other resources to help the participant make healthy changes and reduce their risk of developing diabetes will be provided in the lifestyle coach training.
- A support group of people with similar goals and challenges. Together, participants can share ideas, celebrate successes, and work to overcome obstacles. In some programs, participants interact with one another on a weekly basis. It may be easier to make changes when working with group members.
The purpose of this work is to develop the infrastructure for offering the NDPP within the health system. Improving the infrastructure will lead to an increase in referrals to evidence-based lifestyle change programs, such as the National DPP. The aim of this work is to engage providers within the health system to offer the National DPP and form a network to promote referrals, prediabetes awareness, and healthier living.
Pharmacies can partner with the Georgia Pharmacy Association and the Georgia Department of Public Health to achieve become trained as a lifestyle coach and become recognition for the National DPP. Contact Allison Smith, Allison.Smith@dph.ga.gov to find our more information.
Learn more from the DPH website here: https://dph.georgia.gov/chronic-disease-prevention/diabetes
Get involved by contacting Allison Smith here: Allison.Smith@dph.ga.gov
GPhA continuing education on diabetes
Strategies to Avoid Overbasalization
Presented by Kimberly L. Barefield, PharmD, MBA, CDE, BCPS
UAN: 0142-0000-22-019-H01-P/T
CPE hours: 1.0
Activity type: knowledge
Target audience: pharmacists, pharmacy techs
CLICK HERE for info and to register!
Treatment of the Hospitalized Patient with Diabetes: Hyperglycemic Crisis and Other Scenarios
Presented by Robin Southwood, RPh, PharmD, BC-ADM, CDE
The session will review treatment of hospitalized patients with diabetes. Topics will include treatment of hyperglycemic crisis, euglycemic ketoacidosis and management of the diabetes patient in the non-ICU setting.
UAN: 0142-0000-21-022-H01-P/T
CPE hours: 1.5
Activity type: Knowledge
Target Audience: Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians
CLICK HERE for info and to register!
GPhA is accredited by the Accreditation
Council for Pharmacy Education as a
provider of continuing pharmacy education.
