Diabetes Patients Education

The primary goal of diabetes management is to keep the blood glucose as near normal as possible without causing severe hypoglycemia. The key to achieving this goal is effective diabetes self-management.

Self-management is the empowerment of patients to monitor their control of diabetes and to make necessary adjustments to their life-style. The patient should become an active partner in the management of his or her disease.

Knowledge about diabetes is important and necessary but is not enough for adequate self-management of the disease. The education of the patient is an ongoing process and should aim at helping the patient to:

• Better manage glycemic control
• Overcome attitudinal and psychological barriers
• Improve self-management skills
• Emphasise patient empowerment to make informed choices in their life

The promotion of self-management must be initiated by providing an easy-to-teach and easy-to-learn education program. An effective diabetes education program has to be tailored to the needs of the educator and the patient. It must offer materials that would provide clear and illustrative details simplifying the message. The patient has to feel free to ask questions, express an opinion and demonstrate his experience within a friendly atmosphere.