Did you know that only about half of the 24 million diabetics in the US have had any diabetes education? Let’s understand:

·       Most of us will have diabetes for the remainder of our lives.

·       Managing diabetes is complicated with a large number of variables.

·       We’re the only ones who live with diabetes 24 by 7 and thus the only ones who can effectively manage this baffling and cunning disease.

·       Untreated diabetes is ugly.

·       Education and commitment are critical for success.

 

I believe to my core that we can close the educated/non-educated gap by helping each other. I’m proposing the following:

·       Organizing and running Diabetes Jamboree events around the country.

·       Developing Peer Diabetes Educators.

·       Using Peer Educators to multiply the impact of our Certified Diabetes Educators (CDE).

·       Forming peer-run support groups.

 

I plan to start this plan next Wednesday, June 16 when I present to members of the Diabetes Educators of Eastern Massachusetts, a chapter of the American Association of Diabetes Educators (AADE). My purpose in this speech is to get agreement on the scope of the crisis and to encourage their support of this plan.

 

Next, I’ll schedule a Jamboree for the fall in Berkshire County, Massachusetts. I will also be presenting to the annual convention of AADE on August 6 in San Antonio, TX. I am one of the few non-medical members of this organization.

 

If we don’t take action, the number of new cases will be even more overwhelming for our CDEs. Please know that the number of new cases is growing MUCH faster than the number of new CDEs. The plan I’ve articulated above is the only idea I’ve come up with over the past year and I encourage those reading this post to comment. Please share any thoughts and ideas you’ve got. We’ve got to take action to help each other.

 

Many thanks.