Diabetes Self-Management

Partners & Health Professionals

You can be a part of the state strategy to expand diabetes self-management education and support services (DSMES) across Vermont. With support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Vermont Department of Health collaborated with around 75 partners from across the state to develop a State Strategy to equitably expand DSMES services, making them available to more Vermont residents.

What is DSMES?

Diabetes self-management education and support services (DSMES) offers people with diabetes comprehensive education to develop the knowledge and skills needed to effectively manage diabetes. DSMES is delivered by qualified health care professionals who can provide a foundation for confident self-care. DSMES programs can be accredited by the Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists (ADCES) or recognized by The American Diabetes Association (ADA).

Which Organizations Can Provide DSMES Services?

As of January 2025, Vermont had seven ADCES accredited organizations offering DSMES and three ADA recognized organizations.

You can visit the DSMES Site Locator Map for regularly updated site information. The Health Department hopes to double the number of DSMES sites by July 2028 and to help ensure that sites are inclusive and accessible.

Strategies for Becoming DSMES Accredited

The Vermont State Strategy for DSMES offers resources and guidance to becoming an accredited DSMES provider. Below you will find an overview of information from the State Strategy.

How to apply for ADCES DSMES Accreditation

The steps outlined below are actions needed to apply for ADCES accreditation. Each step is based on a national standard. Along with each step are resources to make the accreditation process easier. Find the basic steps for accreditation in Strategy Theme #2 of the State Strategy. See also the Simplified Steps to ACDES Accreditation and the DSMES Accessibility checklists. Additional resources can be found in CDC’s DSMES Toolkit.

Standard 1 (Step 1)

National Standard: Support for DSMES Services

What you need: A letter of support from an administrative level sponsor at your organization or practice.

Resources: Sample Letter of Administrative Support

Standard 2 (Step 2)

National Standard: Population and Service Assessment

What you need: A description of your organization’s diabetes demographics and other considerations that impact your target population.

Resources:

Find your Vermont Department of Health (VDH) Local Health Office

Diabetes population profiles by county

Use your county profile below to support your DSMES accreditation application.

Personalize them with your organization’s logo by:

Download your county diabetes profile from the web by clicking on the save icon in the toolbar at the top of the page. This may be a downward pointing arrow, a floppy disk image, or something else depending on your browser. Save the document to your computer.
Click the photo icon in the upper right-hand corner on the first page.
In the new window that opens, browse to the location where you have your logo saved and select it.
Click ‘Ok’.
Save the file with your changes.