Building Competency in Diabetes Education THE ESSENTIALS

2-4 | CHAPTER 2

EDUCATIONAL PRINCIPLES AND STRATEGIES

The overriding aim of this manual is to provide novice diabetes educators with the essential knowledge, skills and motivation to participate in educational interventions that meet the Standards for Diabetes Education in Canada (1) and the recommendations contained in the 2018 Guidelines. With the increasing complexity of chronic disease management, the practice of SME (self-management education) and SMS (self-management support) has grown exponentially. The educators’ skills must increase accordingly. To meet this need, relevant information from the previous Building Competency in Diabetes Education: Advancing Practice manual has been updated and included in this workbook, making this manual a valuable resource for the more experienced educator, as well as the novice. Since 2008, the Diabetes Canada (formerly the Canadian Diabetes Association) clinical practice guidelines have included a full chapter on the design and application of SME.

New to the 2018 guidelines is the recognition that self management education needs to be reinforced and supported on an ongoing basis in order for the person with diabetes to truly initiate and integrate any behaviour change. This chapter is now entitled: “ Self-Management Education and Support”.

The discussion and exploration of the many complex SME and SMS issues is presented in two parts, beginning in this chapter and continuing in Chapter 11: Self-Management Education and Support: Program Development. This division is intended to facilitate learning of this challenging topic, beginning with definitions and concepts of SME and SMS, leading into behaviour change theories and the basic objectives of educational interventions. Chapter 11 continues with educational strategies and the constructs essential for the development of programs and services supporting diabetes management.