Birmingham, Ala., November 9, 2019 // Pack Health is pleased to announce that our digital health coaching program has been featured by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) in its Diabetes Support Directory. Part of the ADA’s Diabetes Support Initiative, the Directory is a free online tool to help connect communities to a qualified, ADA-approved diabetes support program. Diabetes support programs are programs that provide ongoing support to people with diabetes to maintain and expand upon the skill, knowledge, and lifestyle changes gained from recognized Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) services.

In conjunction with DSMES, support programs have been linked to improved and reinforced diabetes-related knowledge, health outcomes and self-care skills in areas such as meal planning, physical activity, taking medication and blood glucose monitoring.

Support programs are often held in community-based settings, such as clinics, churches or community organizations, and are frequently peer-led by individuals who speak the language, share the culture and come from the same communities as their program participants.

In an effort to help people with diabetes truly thrive, the American Diabetes Association has developed an online Diabetes Support Directory to connect health professionals and community-based organizations to high-quality support curriculums and resources. Curriculums listed on the Diabetes Support Directory meet the ADA criteria for support programming, align with the Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes and demonstrate significant positive outcomes.

Benefits of connecting your patients to a diabetes support program in the community include:

  • Linking to credible support programs helps ADA’s Education Recognition Programs meet the DSMES Standard #8.
  • Support programs help to reinforce and expand on the participants coping and self-management skills beyond the formal DSMES training.
  • Support programs can fill in the gaps if participants are out of hours but still need help.
  • Support programs can increase referrals to your services, too!

For more information on the Diabetes Support Directory visit: professional.diabetes.org/DSDirectory.

ADA’s Diabetes Support Initiative is supported through funding from founding sponsors including the Prince Hall Shriners and Lon V. Smith Foundation.