To educate people suffering from diabetes, Association of Diabetes Educators (ADE) today stressed on the need for 'diabetes educators', who would provide guidance on clinical and lifestyle issues.
"The trained diabetes educator will work as a catalyst in the integrated approach for management of diabetes providing guidance on clinical, psychosocial, nutritional, lifestyle changes, family support, counselling, treatment and appropriate referrals," said Dr H B Chandalia president of ADE.
Chandalia is also of Director of Diabetes Endocrinology Nutrition Management and Research Centre (DENMARC).
He said that the educator's role will include counselling and psychosocial support to reduce risk factors such as hypertension and obesity besides working closely with patients on medical treatment to achieve optimal glycemic control and helping prevent renal and neurological complications.
By 2025, according to WHO estimates, India will account for half of the world's diabetic patients.
"After years of evidence-based research, there is a growing recognition that diabetes education can play a pivotal role in promotion of health and reduction of risk factors on individuals and communities.
"Diabetes educators will offer patients more choice to take charge of their own lives," said Dr S K Wangnoo, Sr Endocrinologist from Apollo Hospital, Delhi.
As per the latest recommendations presented at the regional meet of ADE here, nurses and dieticians will undergo transformation of roles to help patients with diabetes learn self-management skills to live long and productive lives.
In coming years, ADE plans to further the demand for such education across the country by conducting mass awareness programmes through expert presentations, behaviour change sessions, educative handbooks and role playing case studies.
