Expanding Access to Life-Changing Diabetes Education
Expanding Access
MDT makes diabetes education and support more accessible through personalized telehealth solutions.
Although diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) programs are proven to help improve patient outcomes and are recommended by most leading healthcare organizations, less than 7% of patients with diabetes actually participate in them.
Logistical barriers to DSMES:
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Physical and geographic access—Many patients don’t have programs in their communities or simply can’t access them due to logistical barriers like transportation, the inability to take time off from work, mobility issues, and others. This is an especially stark reality in rural and underserved areas, where social determinants of health have, ironically, contributed to a higher prevalence of diabetes and diabetes-related complications.
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Lack of awareness - Many patients don’t even know that DSMES exists. Doctors can sometimes help make them aware by alerting them to their presence during appointments or through other means of outreach, but even they don’t always know these programs are available - or have a hard time finding resources themselves.
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Concern over expense - Patients automatically assume they can’t afford programs or that their insurance does not cover them. This discourages them from even exploring the opportunity to utilize them.
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Language and cultural barriers -There are limited DSMES resources that offer multi-lingual support, even though a growing number of patients with diabetes are non-English speakers.
Behavioral barriers to DSMES:
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No immediate symptoms - Many people with diabetes don’t think there’s anything wrong with the way they’re managing their condition because they aren’t experiencing any immediate physical symptoms or complications.
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Skepticism - Patients don’t believe that DSMES programs can do anything for them and that they’re doing fine on their own with the basic knowledge they have.
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Fear of judgment - Some patients feel like they’re being lectured or scolded when they talk to their doctor about their diabetes and think that DSMES educators will do the same
Our program eliminates all of these barriers by providing convenient telehealth sessions from the comfort and privacy of patients’ own spaces. Sessions are offered in multiple languages and are personalized according to each patient’s comfort and proficiency with technology. While we generally offer video sessions, we also provide reading materials and phone sessions for patients who prefer it. Sessions are covered by insurance, including Medicare and Medicaid. My Diabetes Tutor coaches offer expert, personalized, compassionate, and judgment-free education and support to help patients take control of their diabetes and overall health.
