NEWS RELEASE
October 21, 1998

Department of Community Health Release New Diabetes Program Standards

Michigan Department of Community Health Director James K. Haveman, Jr., today released the revised Diabetes Self Management Education Program Standards. Dr. Frank Vinicor, Director of the Federal Division of Diabetes Translation of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) praised the release of these new standards.

"Complications from diabetes include blindness, kidney disease, heart disease and amputations," said Haveman. "If people with diabetes learn daily self-management skills and make important lifestyle changes, they can effectively manage diabetes and avoid or delay these serious complications."

To keep current with the many changes in diabetes detection, diagnosis, self management and treatment, Michigan recently revised its standards to closely reflect the new national standards released by the American Diabetes Association. Beginning in January of 1999, all of Michigan's state certified programs and those seeking certification will follow the new standards.

"Diabetes self-management education programs are designed to teach people to effectively manage diabetes," said Dr. Vinicor. "These programs are considered the cornerstone of treatment for people with diabetes."

This visionary approach of fostering and assuring quality outpatient diabetes education forms the basis of Michigan's current Diabetes Self-Management Education Program. From its inception in 1985 with two certified Diabetes Education Programs, Michigan now has 76 state-certified programs providing quality diabetes education to individuals and their families. In 1997, more than 17,500 people with diabetes were educated through these certified programs and are now better able to manage their diabetes.

The most recent Standards Revision Committee, which included representatives from 26 state-certified programs, reviewed and revised the standards over a 18-month period in 1997 and 1998. On June 10, 1998, Michigan's Diabetes Policy Advisory Council approved the Michigan Diabetes Self-Management Education Program Standards.

Revisions in the standards reflect two major areas of change. The current focus on self-management education includes people with diabetes as part of the care-giving team by providing them with the tools and knowledge to manage their diabetes. In keeping with this changing emphasis, the name of this kind of programming has been changed to "diabetes self-management education."

Revisions in the Michigan standards more closely parallel the 22 national self-management education program standards, released by the American Diabetes Association in January 1998. Michigan's standards now better reflect the national state-of-the-science guidelines and their intent to more fully routinize high quality education for people with diabetes.

The certification opportunity will be available to all agencies able to meet the standards. Regional workshops in Marquette, Gaylord, Grand Rapids and Detroit are planned to assist programs to meet the new standards.

"These standards, combined with the commitment and support of the sponsoring organizations, and the abilities and expertise of the program coordinators and instructors, provide core resources necessary for effective diabetes self-management education," said Haveman. A benefit of attending a certified program is that people with diabetes will identify self-management goals designed to ultimately reduce the burden of diabetes physically, socially, and financially, and improve their quality of life. By multiplying this effect through numerous state-certified diabetes education programs more and more Michigan residents with diabetes will benefit.

The certification process includes requirements for the preparation of program coordinators and instructors; standardized curriculum components; and documentation, follow-up and evaluation criteria. Established programs have demonstrated that people with diabetes show improvement in their blood sugar control and recommended follow-up treatments such as regular eye examinations.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PRESS CONTACT: Geralyn Lasher
October 21, 1998 (517) 241-2112