Diabetes education programs are extremely important for newly diagnosed diabetics.
Written by admin on Thursday, April 16th, 2009 in Patient Education.
Diabetes education programs are extremely vital for newly diagnosed diabetics. They need to learn about diabetes, what causes the disease, areas where they will have self-care responsibility for as well as other valuable information that can help them control their disease.
To control diabetes, the best plot is diabetes management in a primary care setting. This is where a primary care doctor is the doctor who will map out a care plot and who the diabetic will see on a regular basis. This plot will also have the uncomplaining has an equal partner with their doctor.
The primary care doctor should be a family specialist who also is a diabetes care specialist. Most insurance plans will require a referral from the primary care doctor to other members of care team. The primary care doctor will manage drug or insulin therapy as well as ordering any regular tests that are needed from a lab.
Another member of the primary care team will be the primary doctor’s nurse who should be a diabetes nurse practitioner – a registered nurse with special training in educating and caring for diabetics. This nurse practitioner will teach the diabetic about new health habits, how to monitor glucose levels and about insulin therapy. Then it will be the diabetic’s responsibility to follow through with what the nurse has taught them.
Another member of the team should be a registered dietitian who has been certified as a diabetes educator. This dietitian will help with food needs, and weight management. They will teach the diabetic how foods will affect blood sugar, how to weigh food with activity and medication, meal plans, where to find excellent cookbooks and how to make food substitutions.
Another vital member of diabetic’s team will be an eye doctor. This is because diabetes can weaken the small blood vessels in the eyes. Diabetics will need to visit their eye doctor at least once or twice a year and these checkups will be able to find any diabetic eye disease early.
A very vital member of the team is a Podiatrist or foot doctor as diabetics have problems with their feet. This is because of poor blood circulation in the leg and nerve destruction in the feet. Both of these conditions make infections simpler to take hold on the feet. The Podiatrist treats corns, calluses and other problems of the feet and treats infections if they happen.
Persons with diabetes are at a fantastic risk of gum disease also because of blood flow and also excess blood sugar in the backtalk. This can lead to gum infections so another vital member of the team is a dentist. A diabetic should see their dentist every 6 months and the dentist should know about the diagnosis of diabetes.
Every diabetic should also have a team member who is an exercise physiologist as exercise plays a major role in diabetic care. Exercise helps lower blood sugar, helps the body use medication better and also helps in weight control
As mentioned higher than, the last and most vital member of any diabetic care team is the diabetic themselves. The diabetic needs to learn self care in many areas and have the responsibility for this self care. They need to learn about foot problems and how to care for their feet. They need to eat healthily as well as control their medications and daily monitor their blood glucose levels. They need to brush their teeth regularly as well as floss daily. They also need to make sure to see their other team members on a regular basis as well as educate themselves on every aspect of their disease. Without the diabetic’s partnership with the primary care doctor at the head of the team, no treatment plot will work well and the disease will gain control.
Diabetes education programs are extremely vital for newly diagnosed diabetics. They need to learn about diabetes, what causes the disease, area where they will have self-care responsibility for as well as other valuable information that can help them control their disease.
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