Self-Management Education (SME) should be discussed at every diabetes-focused visit and individualized according to type of diabetes, patient ability, and motivation for learning and change.
Self-Management Areas of Focus | Collaborate with your patient to create an action plan on their identified area of focus |
Diabetes Education | Enable timely, culturally and literacy appropriate diabetes education and resources |
Nutrition | Encourage to follow Eating Well with Canada’s Food Guide and refer for dietary counseling |
Physical Activity | Minimum 150 minutes aerobic per week and resistance exercise 2-3 times per week |
Weight loss (5-10% of initial weight) | Can substantially improve glycemic control and cardiovascular disease risk factors in overweight patients |
Medication | Counsel about adherence (dose, timing, frequency), anticipated effects, and mechanism of action |
Hypoglycemia | Counsel about the prevention, recognition, and treatment of drug-induced hypoglycemia |
Self-Monitoring Blood Glucose (SMBG) | Not on insulin: Individualized to type of antihyperglycemic agents, level of control, and risk of hypoglycemia On insulin only once a day: SMBG ≥ once a day at variable times On insulin > once a day: SMBG ≥ 3 times per day including pre- and post-prandial values |
Foot care | Educate on proper foot care including daily foot inspection |
Mental Health & Mood Disorders | Screen for depressive and anxious symptoms by interview or standardized questionnaire (eg. PHQ-9) www.phqscreeners.com |
Smoking Cessation | Include formal smoking prevention and cessation counseling |
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