Betsy Rodriguez, BSN, MSN, DCES, FADCES
President
APRADE
Featured in the Session: ADA ERP Symposium: Standardizing Diabetes Education on a Global Level
When
Friday, June 5
at 3:45 p.m.
Where
Hall E-3 (Level 1)
Ernest N. Morial Convention Center
What is your presentation about?
My presentation highlights the current state of diabetes and the challenges of implementing Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) in Latin America, where high prevalence, low awareness, and limited access continue to impact outcomes. It explores how cultural, socio-economic, and systemic factors influence the effectiveness of DSMES programs in the region. I will also present innovative, regionally driven solutions, including the development of a LATAM Diabetes Educator Profile, an implementation manual, and a Community of Practice. These efforts demonstrate how culturally adapted and scalable models can improve outcomes locally while informing global diabetes care.
How do you hope your presentation will impact diabetes research or care?
I hope this presentation highlights the importance of culturally adapted and context-specific DSMES as a critical component of improving diabetes outcomes. By sharing scalable models from Latin America, I aim to inform research and care approaches that prioritize equity, access, and real-world applicability. Ultimately, I hope to inspire broader adoption of strategies that ensure diabetes education works for diverse populations globally.
How did you become involved with this area of diabetes research or care?
I bring over 30 years of experience as a diabetes educator at both national and international levels, and I currently serve as director of the Diabetes Education Task Force with the International Diabetes Federation SACA REGION, and also Chief Editor of the IDF Diabetes Education Handbook. I serve as faculty for the Diabetes Educator Diploma Program at the University of Guanajuato in Mexico and for the diabetes educator training program with ADIPER in Peru, supporting capacity building across Latin America. Honorary member of the Federación Mexicana de Educadores en Diabetes México and active member of ADCES. Combined with my lived experience as a person with diabetes and a pancreas mom, this continues to drive my commitment to advancing equitable and culturally relevant diabetes care globally.