Is the Diabetes Educator Our Next Endangered Species? Lessons From the American Bald Eagle

Several years ago, our national bird, the American bald eagle, was in jeopardy of becoming extinct. Imagine how it would be if our national symbol could no longer be spotted in our country's skies. Fortunately, the bald eagle was protected and continues to be proudly hailed as a meaningful symbol of the United States.

As the number of people developing diabetes in the United States increases, there is a paradoxical and growing concern that diabetes educators, who can help stem this tide, will become extinct. Educators in both the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the American Association of Diabetes Educators (AADE) report program closings and express frustration with the implementation of Medicare benefits and the difficulties involved in obtaining appropriate reimbursement.

The ADA and AADE collaborated to conduct a survey of diabetes self-management education (DSME) programs.¹ Their findings in 122 sites confirmed other studies indicating that diabetes education is an underutilized service.^1–4 Nearly half of the sites reported an average visit volume of < 50 visits per month, and 19% reported only 51–100 visits per month.¹ This means that relatively few diabetes patients have continuing contact with educators. With the number of education program closings and the dismal numbers of people reported to have received DSME, one cannot help but wonder if there will continue to be employment opportunities for the nurses, dietitians, and pharmacists who deliver …