Managing diabetes is a complex, daily commitment. It involves blood sugar monitoring, maintaining a healthy diet and exercise routine, taking medications and keeping up with medical appointments. These constant demands can feel overwhelming, leading to what is known as diabetes burnout—a state of feeling run down, stressed out or emotionally drained from the effort required to manage the condition.
In fact, 79% of people living with diabetes report experiencing burnout, and among them, three in four admit to stopping or interrupting their treatment. The problem is that this disruption in care increases the risk of serious health complications such as heart disease, kidney failure or stroke.
Through my work with home health providers, I’ve seen firsthand how essential it is for diabetes management to integrate into a patient’s daily routine seamlessly. Providing care in the home allows clinicians to meet patients where they are, offering tailored solutions that align with their unique needs and lifestyles. More than just delivering clinical care, home health providers build strong, trusting relationships that keep patients engaged and empowered to work toward their long-term health goals.
A key advantage of providing care in the home is the ability for clinicians to address medical needs as well as social determinants of health (SDoH) that impact diabetes management. Factors such as food insecurity, housing instability and financial constraints can create significant barriers to effective care. For instance, a lack of reliable transportation may prevent patients from attending medical appointments or picking up prescriptions, while budgetary constraints can make it difficult to afford healthy foods or essential medications.
By identifying and addressing these challenges, home health providers play a crucial role in closing gaps in care, improving outcomes and ensuring patients have the resources they need for comprehensive condition management.
One of the most effective ways to support diabetes management in the home setting is through diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES). This approach integrates both educational and behavioral strategies, equipping patients with the knowledge and skills to manage their condition properly. Diabetes care and education specialists increase patients’ access to quality care and support better health outcomes, but only 52% of adults with diabetes report receiving DSMES or other forms of diabetes education. This presents a need for greater awareness and access to educational programs that can be more effectively facilitated in the home.
DSMES clinical programs are designed to assess individual patient needs and provide tailored education and problem-solving strategies to overcome barriers to care. A key component of DSMES is its focus on the seven self-care behaviors identified by The Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists (ADCES): Healthy eating, being active, monitoring health indicators, taking medications, problem-solving, healthy coping and reducing risks. These behaviors help patients manage their overall health more meaningfully and reduce the risk of complications such as hypertension, cardiovascular disease and kidney disease.
Caring for people with diabetes in an environment familiar to them allows home health providers to deliver hands-on, practical support that helps patients integrate DSMES strategies into their daily life while reducing the risk of burnout. This may include assessing a patient’s diet and recommending healthy food swaps to help regulate blood sugar, providing personalized patient education on physical activity and tips for risk management, or making necessary insulin or medication adjustments as patient needs evolve.
Beyond improving patient health outcomes, DSMES programs equip patients with tools to manage their diabetes proactively while lowering health care costs. Patients who receive diabetes education are less likely to need emergency department visits, hospital admissions and readmissions—ultimately reducing acute care expenses. Home health providers not only enhance patients’ quality of life but also promote a sustainable, cost-effective approach to care across the industry.