Call the number on your health insurance card to find out more about your benefits, including details about amounts or number of hours covered. You may need a referral from your provider, and these services may need to be provided by someone who is certified and registered for this training, so ask about this, too.
Medicare Part B covers diabetes education (called diabetes self-management training, or DSMT). “It includes tips for eating healthy, being active, monitoring blood sugar, taking drugs, and reducing risks,” according to the Medicare.gov website. It may cover up to 10 hours of initial diabetes education, including 1 hour of individual training and 9 hours of group training. And you could also qualify for 2 hours of follow-up training each year, according to the website. You’ll need a written order from your healthcare provider.
Despite all the benefits of diabetes education, studies show that not enough people take advantage of these classes and training. A 2014 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that less than 7 percent of people with diabetes with private insurance participated in diabetes education in the first year after diagnosis.