The Montana Diabetes Resource Center

(Home Page address:  http://healthinfo.montana.edu/diabetes/default.htm)

Montana Diabetes Education Programs

The Quality Diabetes Education Initiative

Sponsored by the Montana Diabetes Project
Department of Public Health and Human Services
Helena, MT

Coordinator: Marci Butcher, RD, CDE

What is QDEI?

It is a program offering resources to people wanting to improve and maintain their skills regarding diabetes education. It is concerned with both individual educators and the programs in which diabetes education is taught.

• QDEI can provide resources to assist outpatient settings in developing basic diabetes education programs.
• QDEI helps increase the skills of individual educators through a self-study and mentoring process tailored to the needs of the educator, clients and setting.

Options available to proceed through the mentoring program:

1. Option 1: Easy to understand overview of diabetes or easy to understand book focusing on type 1 diabetes
   • American Diabetes Association Complete Guide to Diabetes
   • Understanding Insulin Dependent Diabetes (Pink Panther Book)
2. Option 2: Targeted to dietitians
   • American Diabetes Association Guide to Medical Nutrition Therapy for Diabetes
3. Option 3: A more intensive study of diabetes
   • A Core Curriculum for Diabetes Education (AADE)
4. Option 4: Preparing for the CDE exam
   • A Core Curriculum for Diabetes Education (AADE)

Steps in the mentoring process:

1. If you are interested in providing quality education to persons with diabetes, contact the QDEI Coordinator:

   Marci Butcher, RD, CDE Montana Diabetes Project P.O. 144 49 Indian Creek Road Wilsall, Montana  59086 Phone:  406-578-2075 Fax:  406-578-2098 Email:  marcibutcher@msn.com

2. QDEI will match you with a mentor. It may be the QDEI Coordinator or another CDE, depending on the option chosen and the area in which you live.
3. Obtain the book that accompanies the option you've chosen. There are books available for loan.
4. Contact your mentor and make plans on how to proceed.
5. You and your mentor will need to sign a letter of agreement and return it to the QDEI Coordinator.
6. Work through the chapters of your book, answer the post-test questions, and discuss the chapter content and any questions with your mentor. (The post-test answers will be sent to the QDEI Coordinator.)
7. Upon completion of your option, a certificate of achievement will be awarded.

 Please note:  some documents are in PDF format and you will need Adobe Reader to view the file.  Download Adobe Reader: 

This site has been developed in cooperation with the Montana Area Health Education Center, MSU-Bozeman and is the property of the Montana Diabetes Project, Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services.  All rights reserved.

Please send comment/suggestions/corrections referencing this page to Susan Day at sday@mt.gov.  Thank you.