title: Diabetes educator mentorship program: mentors requested.
abstract: The purpose of this article is to describe the Diabetes Educator Mentorship Program, communicate mentors' experiences and perceptions during the first 3 years following implementation, and provide strategies to encourage mentoring.
  
  
  
  Creation of this collaborative program has fostered successful attainment of additional certified diabetes educators who obtained diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) practice requirement hours through a voluntary Diabetes Educator Mentorship Program. There is a significant need for additional mentors to meet the growing need for mentoring partnerships. Increasing the number of mentors will provide more opportunities to those seeking to gain DSMES experience and will ultimately expand the number of health professionals available to educate those with diabetes or prediabetes.
authors.affiliation: University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, College of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics and Harold Hamm Diabetes Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (Dr Beck)
authors.forename: Joni K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Beck
authors.affiliation: National Certification Board for Diabetes Educators, Arlington Heights, Illinois (Mrs Traficano)
authors.forename: Sheryl E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Traficano
mesh_terms: D003920:Diabetes Mellitus; D005260:Female; D040441:Health Educators / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008611:Mentors / Q000193:education*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods; D014481:United States