Diabetes Education 101 for Behavioral Health Professional

The American Diabetes Association® is making strides to increase experts in the field and ensure support for the psychosocial challenges faced as we continue to help people with diabetes and their families thrive.

These asynchronous modules focus on how behavioral health professionals can help people from different cultures manage diabetes and include interactive modules with several patient videos and free resources. This program will allow learners to:

1. Identify fundamental principles underlying diabetes.
2. Recall effective strategies for preventing and managing diabetes.
3. Explore medications, technology, and lifestyle modifications pivotal in supporting people with diabetes.
4. Identify developmental and transitional challenges spanning various stages of life.
5. Recognize the role behavioral health professionals play in the treatment of people with diabetes.
6. Examine the intersection of mental health disorders and diabetes.

Benefits:

• Education and guidance on treating people with diabetes
• Access to the Diabetes and Emotional Health Workbook and Behavioral Health Toolkit
• Option to be listed in ADA's Mental Health Directory

Expires June 3, 2025

This program is supported, in part, by unrestricted educational grants from The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust

Module 1: What Is Diabetes?

• Recognize the role insulin has in diabetes.
• Identify the characteristics of various types of diabetes.
• Recall how diabetes can be diagnosed.
• Determine factors that affect diabetes prevalence.

Module 2: Diabetes Prevention and Maintenance

• Recall beneficial lifestyle changes that can support people with diabetes in managing their condition effectively.
• Recognize strategies for weight loss that are particularly relevant to people with diabetes.
• Identify how adverse social determinants of health and individual-level social risks can make diabetes prevention and management challenging.
• Examine ways in which behavioral health specialists can provide valuable assistance and support to people with diabetes in managing their condition and achieving better health outcomes.

Module 3: Medication, Technology, & Lifestyle Change

• Recall the function of insulin in the body.
• Explore the role of diabetes technology in optimizing blood glucose management and improving patient outcomes.
• Identify common barriers to insulin use.
• Explore the factors that contribute to diabetes complications and health disparities among people with diabetes.
• Recognize the critical role of behavioral health specialists in addressing the psychological aspects of diabetes management.

Module 4: Developmental and Transitional Challenges Across the Lifespan

• Recall how developmental stages, such as childhood, adolescence, and adulthood, impact diabetes management and emotional wellbeing. 

• Recognize how behavioral health specialists can help people with diabetes effectively cope with managing their diabetes.

Module 5: Mental Health Professionals’ Role, Strategies, and Diagnosis

• Recall who is part of the diabetes care team.

• Identify strategies behavioral health professionals can use in the treatment of people with diabetes.

• Recognize appropriate diabetes language to use.

Module 6: Mental Health Disorders & Diabetes

• Recognize the differences between depression and diabetes distress. 

• Identify common mental health issues people with diabetes experience.

• Recall successful mental health interventions that can be used for people with diabetes.

Mary de Groot, PhD

Associate Professor of Medicine
Indiana University School of Medicine

Stephanie L. Fitzpatrick, PhD

Associate Professor
Donald & Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell
Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research at Northwell Health

Gabriela Gibson-Lopez, PsyD

Clinical Assistant Professor
University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

Linda Gonder-Frederick, PhD

Associate Professor of Research in Psychiatric Medicine
University of Virginia School of Medicine

Michael Harris, PhD

Professor of Pediatrics
Oregon Health & Science University

Marisa Hilliard, PhD

Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Psychology
Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children’s Hospital

Korey Hood, PhD

Psychologist & Clinical Researcher
Stanford University

David Marrero, PhD

Former Director of the Center for Health Disparities Research
University of Arizona School of Medicine

Maureen Monaghan, PhD, CDCES 

Program Director, Diabetes Behavioral Science
Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolic Diseases
NIH/NIDDK

Cynthia Muñoz, PhD, MPH

Associate Professor of Clinical Pediatrics
University of Southern California
Licensed Psychologist
Children’s Hospital Los Angeles

Diana Naranjo, PhD

Clinical Professor of Pediatrics
Stanford School of Medicine

Monica Peek, MD, MPH, MS, FACP

Professor for Health Justice
University of Chicago

Raquel Romero, MD, MPH, CDCES

Primary Care Practice Consultant
University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

Tricia Tang, PhD

Associate Professor
University of British Columbia Division of Endocrinology

Jill Weissberg-Benchell, PhD, CDCES

Professor of Psychiatry
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine