Role of a diabetes educator in the management of diabetes

Abstract

Education is not just a part of diabetes treatment; it is the treatment. This article will briefly review the goals and targets of a diabetes educator and how diabetes education has helped to improve the lives of diabetic patients. The key aims of diabetes education are to change behavior and promote self-management. Diabetes education consists of providing tools and support to patients as they learn to manage their disease thereby creating self confidence. Educating and imparting knowledge to diabetic patients is a complicated process. Individuals affected by diabetes must learn self-management skills and make life style changes to effectively manage diabetes and avoid or delay the complications associated with this disorder. For these reasons, self-management education is corner stone of treatment for all people with diabetes. Diabetes education has had somewhat impressive results in reducing the frequency of certain chronic diabetic complications in high-risks groups, notably foot ulceration and amputation. To deal with the great challenge of the global increase in diabetes prevalence, a diabetes education team has to intervene. A diabetes educator can provide support by encouraging patients to talk about their concerns or fears about diabetes. When the patient is diagnosed for the first time, the diabetes educator can actively teach the self-management skills and help them to live their life with diabetes.