DSME content based on life stages
| Infancy (birth–18 months) |
| Period of trust versus mistrust |
| Providing warmth and comfort measures after invasive procedures is important |
| Feeding and sleeping or nap routines |
| Vigilance for hypoglycemia |
| Play age (3–5 years) |
| Reassurance that body is intact, use of Band-Aids and kisses after procedures |
| Identification of hypoglycemic signs and symptoms (temper tantrums and nightmares are common) |
| Include child in choosing injection and finger-prick sites |
| Positive reinforcement for cooperation |
| Begin process for teaching child awareness of hypoglycemia |
| School age (6–12 years) |
| Integrate child into educational experience |
| Determine skill level |
| Identify self-care skills |
| Determine roles and responsibilities |
| Communication with peers and school staff—who and when to tell about diabetes |
| Adolescence (12–18 years) |
| Begin transition care planning |
| Personal meaning of diabetes |
| Determine roles and responsibilities in care |
| Social situations and dating |
| Who or when to tell about diabetes |
| Driving |
| Sex and preconception counseling |
| Alcohol and drugs |
| College and career planning |
| Young adults |
| Personal meaning of diabetes |
| Roles and responsibilities in care |
| Social situations and dating |
| Who or when to tell about diabetes |
| Genetic risks, conception, and preconception |
| Travel |
| Choosing or pursuing a career |
| Workplace rights |
| Health or life insurance |
| Involving friends and significant others in diabetes care |
| Safety |
| Creating a support network |
| Establishing or maintaining independence |
| Middle-aged adults |
| Personal meaning of diabetes |
| Roles and responsibilities in care |
| Involving spouse or significant other in care |
| Sexual functioning |
| Developing a support network |
| Travel |
| Pursuing a career |
| Workplace rights |
| Health or life insurance |
| Talking with children or other family members about diabetes |
| Balancing other responsibilities with diabetes care |
| Safety |
| Facing complications |
| Older adults |
| Personal meaning of diabetes |
| Roles and responsibilities in care |
| Maintaining independence |
| Obtaining assistance with diabetes care tasks |
| Involving spouse or significant other in care |
| Travel |
| Talking with adult children or other family members about diabetes |
| Safety |
| Assessing for declines in ability to perform self-care/activities of daily living |
| Caring for diabetes along with other chronic illnesses or comorbidities |
| Obtaining health care when living in multiple locations |
| Community resources |
| Care of type 1 diabetes in long-term or other care facilities |