Project Dulce: Professional Training in Evidence-Based Diabetes Education Programs
Training for high incidence regions in the US and globally
Training for high incidence regions in the US and globally
What is Project Dulce?
Project Dulce is a clinically guided diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) program developed by Scripps Whittier Diabetes Institute. Designed for broad public health implementation, the program helps adults with diabetes achieve individualized glycemic targets and prevent complications through evidence-based education and support strategies.
Project Dulce is supported by over 25 years of successful implementation and research demonstrating effectiveness in improving daily self-management and clinical outcomes in individuals with diabetes across a wide range of settings.
It has been recognized by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and Medicare as one of the three evidence-based DSMES programs that meet the guidelines for ADA accreditation.
Ready to become a licensed partner?
Contact us by email at ruiz.monica@scrippshealth.org or by phone at 858-626-4667.
A license is required for organizations that intend to use the Project Dulce education curriculum. Organizations must obtain this license before accessing the curriculum and related educational materials or participating in Project Dulce’s diabetes educator training. The curriculum and materials are updated annually by clinical professionals to reflect current ADA guidelines.
Licensing grants organizations access to core program materials, including session slides and educational handouts. Project Dulce offers site leads ongoing administrative support as needed during program implementation. All licensed organizations receive access to quarterly educational webinars delivered by the Scripps Whittier Diabetes team. Licensed groups are required to submit Annual Reports summarizing activity, including session counts and participant totals.
The diabetes educator training program is available both in-person and virtually. The program follows a structured model emphasizing coordinated support: nurse care managers provide clinical oversight, while trained diabetes educators conduct group education sessions on effective diabetes management strategies.
Highly interactive sessions
The Project Dulce curriculum, Diabetes Among Friends, includes five highly interactive sessions that cover the seven areas of focus for self-management behaviors established by the Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists (ADCES):
- Health eating
- Being physically active
- Taking medication
- Blood sugar monitoring
- Preventing complications
- Healthy coping
- Problem-solving
Multilingual program: The curriculum and educational materials are available in multiple languages to support broader patient comprehension and engagement to diabetes care recommendations. Educational handouts are visual and available in multiple languages including English, Spanish, Arabic, Tagalog and Vietnamese. Project Dulce diabetes health educators use group activities to demonstrate effective diabetes management techniques through movement.
Diabetes health educators
Diabetes health educators undergo a 20-hour, competency-based training and mentoring program focused on diabetes knowledge and group facilitation skills. The program includes three training phases and uses nationally recognized evaluation standards. Educators are selected based on demonstrated communication ability, diabetes knowledge, and instructional effectiveness. Diabetes knowledge and group facilitation skills are evaluated using the American Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists (ADCES) competencies.
Diabetes health educators may have personal or family experience with diabetes and draw on this background to address common questions and challenges during their education sessions.
Becoming a Project Dulce licensed partner
The curriculum and supporting materials are reviewed annually by clinical professionals to align with American Diabetes Association (ADA) guidelines and reflect current clinical best practices. Organizations may license Project Dulce materials and implement the program by designating a program supervisor with relevant clinical or patient education experience.
To replicate the program, each organization must complete the following:
- Designate a Project Dulce program supervisor at the site with clinical or patient education experience.
- Complete the 3-Phase Training Program:
Phase 1: Delivered by a Scripps diabetes health educator and the Project Dulce Training Team. Supervisors and diabetes educators attend a 20-hour training offered virtually over five days or in person over three days. The training covers core content from the Diabetes Among Friends curriculum and introduces structured methods for leading group-based diabetes education sessions. The program includes instructional techniques, communication strategies, motivational interviewing, and group management skills. Participants complete daily knowledge checks and provide feedback. Supervisors may also access additional implementation support if needed.
Phase 2: Led by the site’s program supervisor. Educators complete a set of standardized training objectives designed to ensure consistent delivery of diabetes education content and program protocols. Upon satisfactory completion and supervisor approval, a 3-year certification is issued by the Scripps Whittier Diabetes Institute to participants who complete both Phases 1 and 2. Templates for standardized competencies are provided.
Phase 3: The program supervisor submits documentation confirming the training completion and readiness of new diabetes educators.
Organizations must also submit annual reports detailing educator certification status, number of sessions delivered, and participant attendance.
Ongoing Education: Certified educators are encouraged to attend follow-up webinars offered by Scripps as part of their ongoing 3-year certification cycle.
Evidenced-based scientific publications
Project Dulce is supported by over 25 years of successful implementation and published evidence. Supported by the National Institute of Health, Project Dulce completed a clinical trial demonstrating a significant and positive impact on physical health outcomes and related health costs in diverse populations. These results have been found again and again through our various other studies. Check out a list of scientific publications on PubMed.
In the media
Several respected media outlets have reported on the positive health and cost outcomes associated with the Project Dulce program.
- In 2017, the PBS program NewsHour aired a segment on Project Dulce and the Scripps Whittier Diabetes Institute, highlighting its success in improving diabetes care delivery in San Diego County.
- In 2024, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) included Project Dulce in their Principles of Community Engagement report as an example of an evidence-based approach to diabetes care.
Dulce Digital text messaging program
Dulce Digital is a structured text message program designed to complement clinical diabetes care with automated reminders delivered three times per day over a six-month period. A randomized clinical trial published in Diabetes Care (2017) showed that this low-cost messaging tool resulted in an average one percent reduction in HbA1c and was well received by participants.
Dulce Digital provides a flexible option for patients who may have scheduling or logistical challenges that limit their ability to attend in-person sessions. It can be used as a stand-alone educational support or alongside the Diabetes Among Friends curriculum.
Program Delivery:
The HIPAA-compliant texting platform, operated by technology partner Rip Road, delivers automated messages to enrolled patients. Each partner site has access to its own program data.
Multilingual Messaging Options:
Dulce Digital messages have been demonstrated to improve outcomes when delivered in English or Spanish. Additional language options currently include Tagalog, Arabic and Vietnamese.
Licensing and Support:
The Scripps Whittier Diabetes Institute provides training and implementation support for designated program leads, who oversee patient enrollment and activity monitoring.
Additional outcome publications are available via Oxford Academic.
Our team
Led by Dr. Athena Philis-Tsimikas, corporate vice president of the Scripps Whittier Diabetes Institute, Project Dulce is supported by a team of professionals with expertise in endocrinology, clinical research, patient education, behavioral medicine, nutrition, healthcare operations, and program implementation.
Community and academic partners
- American Diabetes Association – Know Diabetes by Heart
- San Diego State University Institute for Public Health
- National Institute of Health: Community Engagement Alliance
- South Bay Latino Research Center, San Diego State University
- University of Southern California Clinical and Translational Science Institute: Center for Latino Health
Multi-language diabetes handouts
To improve health communication and patient understanding of diabetes care, Project Dulce has developed a series of easy-to-read, infographic-based educational handouts. These materials cover 20 diabetes-related topics and are available in multiple languages to support patients with limited English proficiency or specific language needs.
Access our patient education handouts in: Arabic, Chinese, English, Lao, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog and Vietnamese.