Diabetes is among the most common chronic diseases experienced by older adults. More than 30 million Americans have diabetes, reflecting 9.4% of the U.S. population. This figure increases with age, with diabetes affecting 25.2% of adults aged 65 and older (National Diabetes Statistics Report, 2017).
The Administration for Community Living, through its Chronic Disease Self-Management Education (CDSME) grant initiative, supports the delivery of proven health promotion programs targeting chronic conditions such as diabetes. Since 2010, nearly 370,000 people have participated in evidence-based CDSME programs, with approximately 33% indicating a diabetes diagnosis. Almost 80,000 of these participants took part in either the Diabetes Self-Management Program (DSMP) or its Spanish language counterpart, Programa de Manejo Personal de la Diabetes.
Both the English and Spanish versions of the DSMP have proven outcomes, namely improvements in hemoglobin A1c, depression, symptoms of hypoglycemia, communication with physicians, healthy eating, and reading food labels. A recent study evaluating the impact of the DSMP (in-person and online) on comorbid illnesses, health care utilization, and cost found significant reductions for diabetes-associated comorbid conditions, as well as reduced health care utilization and costs (savings of $815 per participant).
To find a Diabetes Self-Management Program or other evidence-based programs near you, visit the Evidence-Based Leadership Council website.