ADCES26: From Evidence to Exam Room: Practical Innovations to Scale DSMES and Improve Outcomes
May 5, 2026, 09:35 AM
In this post, ADCES26 Planning Committee Member Sarah Keegan MS, RDN, LMNT, CDCES, highlights one of the conference's educational learning tracks.
The Innovations in Care Delivery education track at ADCES26 collectively tackles one of the biggest challenges in diabetes care today: turning great ideas into real-world impact. Across these sessions, presenters confront the everyday roadblocks that diabetes care and education specialists face—limited time with patients, staffing constraints, low patient engagement, and the ongoing struggle to sustain programs beyond initial funding. Rather than staying theoretical, these sessions focus on practical, proven solutions that can be implemented across clinical, community, and digital settings.
A major theme is closing the gap between evidence-based frameworks and what’s actually feasible in practice. Whether it’s translating a research pilot like Cooking Matters for Diabetes into a fully integrated health system program, or rethinking how DSMES is delivered in fast-paced clinical encounters, these sessions offer strategies to simplify, adapt, and scale what works. You’ll walk away with tools to make education more efficient, engaging, and impactful—even within real-world constraints.
Access and engagement are also front and center. Several sessions highlight innovative ways to meet people where they are—bringing DSMES into communities, strengthening follow-up through connected care, and addressing social needs through interprofessional teams. These approaches directly respond to persistent barriers like low attendance, gaps in continuity, and health inequities. The transitional care session is especially valuable for anyone working with younger populations, offering insight into improving attendance and empowering patients during the critical shift to adult care.
What makes this track particularly exciting is its forward-looking approach. The session on social media and misinformation addresses a rapidly growing influence on patient behavior, equipping DCESs with tools to engage responsibly in digital spaces while reinforcing evidence-based care. At the same time, the focus on educational science—like managing cognitive load and emotional factors—provides immediately applicable techniques to improve how patients learn and retain information.
Sustainability is another key highlight. Sessions on CQI and workforce development reframe common pain points—like reporting burdens and staffing shortages—into opportunities for growth. You’ll learn how to embed CQI into daily workflows, strengthen team collaboration, and build a more confident, capable workforce that can expand DSMES reach without sacrificing quality.
Perhaps most compelling is the emphasis on collaboration. From community health workers to dietitians, nurses and pharmacists to primary care providers, these sessions showcase how strong, patient-centered teams can transform outcomes and improve both clinical results and patient relationships.
Overall, this track is designed for anyone looking to move beyond theory and make meaningful, lasting improvements in diabetes care. If you’re seeking practical strategies, innovative models, and fresh inspiration to overcome common challenges, these are sessions you won’t want to miss.
Learn more about ADCES26 and register today.