Capacity of Diabetes Education Programs to Provide Diabetes Education and Diabetes Prevention Services

Objective: To assess the capacity of diabetes self-management education (DSME) programs in Montana to provide lifestyle services to patients with and without diagnosed diabetes.

Methods: In June 2009, the Montana Diabetes Prevention and Control Program (DPCP) conducted an internet based survey of DSME coordinators in the state. Questions assessed staffing, current and additional capacity to provide DSME and lifestyle services to persons with diagnosed diabetes, pre-diabetes or with multiple cardiometabolic risk factors. Additionally, respondents were asked about intentions to implement lifestyle services, barriers to implementation and need for training to provide theses services.

Results: Seventy four percent of DSME programs completed the survey (n=39). Over 70% of urban and rural programs currently provide lifestyle services to patients with abnormal glucose tolerance without diabetes. The majority of urban programs (58%) provided group and individual services, while the majority of rural programs (58%) provided individual services. Eighty-five percent of urban programs and 58% of rural programs have already implemented or intend to implement a lifestyle intervention similar to the Diabetes Prevention Program and 50% of programs were interested in receiving training, while 32% had already received training. The most common barriers to providing diabetes prevention services were lack of reimbursement (79%) and the lack of staff (62%); other barriers included lack of physical space (35%), administrative support (21%), referrals of high-risk patients (17%), and physician support (10%).

Conclusion: Urban and rural DSME programs in Montana have the capacity to implement diabetes prevention lifestyle services to people at high-risk for diabetes.