Comparing the processes: accreditation and recognition.

Diabetes education programs are developed to serve the diabetes community by offering quality education that meets a set of standards and is then eligible for third-party insurance reimbursement. Three organizations are authorized by the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to determine whether diabetes education programs meet required standards. Each of the three relies on the 2007 edition of the National Standards for Diabetes Self-Management Education. This article summarizes similarities among and unique qualities of each of the organization's approaches to assuring quality.