Background: It is estimated that 35 million Americans have type 2 diabetes. Many diagnosed
patients will not receive Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) after
diagnosis. Referrals entered on behalf of the primary care provider (PCP) are necessary for
diabetes education. Purpose: This study aimed to understand the perspectives of PCPs regarding
DSMES in hopes of identifying barriers or prompters when entering referrals to DSMES.
Method: Ten providers were interviewed using a qualitative basic interpretive design. A semistructured
guide was used to allow for impromptu data exploration as needed. Following the
interviews, data were reduced to codes and sorted in thematic groups. Results: Data analysis
found that the participants did not have opinions of DSMES, as it was considered too difficult to
access. Themes regarding poor accessibility included: limited patient access to education (due to
proximity, appointment availability, or finances), limited provider access to the patient, and
limited provider access to the diabetes educator. Discussion: Providers suggested using in-clinic
education, outpatient resources (e.g., home health workers and nurse navigators), and
telemedicine to improve DSMES accessibility. Furthermore, enhancing interprofessional
collaboration within the medical community can encourage referral and DSMES attendance
while improving the overall patient care experience.