Diabetes educator requires not only extensive diabetes knowledge but also effective coaching skill to help people with diabetes achieving the treatment goal by self-management. After 2 years of intensive review and brainstorming for appropriate program and feasibility of implementation, Siriraj Diabetes Center established a curriculum for diabetes educators in 2017. The program was set up according to International Diabetes Federation’s guideline supervised by Mrs. Anne Belton, an experienced diabetes educator (DE) from Michenner Institute, Canada. The curriculum was accredited by Faculty of Medicine Siriraj hospital, Mahidol University. The DE students who completed the program is qualified as certified diabetes educator (CDE) and be bestowed a certificate. The DE students who are eligible to enter the program are those who caring for diabetes including doctors, nurses, pharmacists, nutritionists/dietitians, physiotherapists and health educators. The one-year program was first launched in August 2017 with 22 students. The students are on the job and leave their duty to attend the program on Thursday and Friday only. The first 4 months was theoretical section, and the last 6 months was practicing section in their hospitals. The learning methods are lecture, discussion, workshop, clinic visit, role-play, case study and reflection. Mindfulness and the king RAMA IX’s working philosophy as well as deep listening are added in learning process. Because of differences in professions and working experiences, gaining sufficient diabetes knowledge, communication and motivation interviewing skills were closely monitored. At the end of the program, all students practiced deep listening and were able to evaluate the stage of behavior change in their cases utilizing the gained knowledge and skill. To register for and continue professional license, CDEs have to obtain 120 hours of DSMES counseling and 10 credits of attending continuing education yearly. All of these are the beginning which required monitoring and evaluation at interval.
