Diabetic Education For Everyone

 

The diagnosis of diabetes brings a lot of questions: " Like what else will I  be eating?", "How does blood sugar work?" or "How often and when do I have to inject insulin?"

 All of these important topics are discussed in a special training course for type 1 and type 2 diabetics and practiced with the help of blood glucose meters or insulin pens. Diabetic training usually lasts one week, the costs for which are usually covered by health insurance companies within the framework of recognized programs or made available to patients free of charge by hospitals.

 

Who is this therapy for?

 

• Type 1 diabetics (about 5% of those affected): is caused by a disease of the pancreas, it cannot produce insulin. This hormone, which is responsible for regulating blood sugar, must therefore be administered by means of injections (eg pens). Type 1 diabetes occurs mainly in children and adolescents.
• Type 2 diabetics: (about 95% of those affected): caused by insulin resistance in the body cells or the pancreas can no longer keep up with insulin production due to the high demand. The development of type 2 diabetes is favored by being overweight and lack of exercise. Important therapeutic measures are weight loss, exercise, medication, and, in certain cases, insulin.
• Pregnant women with diabetes: In some cases, the doctor also sends women with gestational diabetes to diabetic training. You will be informed about what gestational diabetes is, what therapies are available, what the right diet should look like, and how rental equipment, for example for measuring blood sugar, works.
• Children with diabetes: Diabetic training courses are also offered for children and young people, and the information provided is prepared in a manner appropriate to their age.

 

What happens at a diabetic training course?

 

The meetings are primarily about discussing everyday situations together and thus making life with the disease easier to master. If your doctor sends you to diabetic training, you should use this opportunity to get practical and well-founded answers to the following questions:

• What is diabetes?
• What general treatment options are there?
• Which diet is best for me and how do I cope with it in everyday life?
• Why is regular exercise so important? What exercise is good and how do I start an exercise program?
• Should I check my blood sugar level myself? If so: how, when, and how often?
• How can I inject myself with insulin? (individual advice)
• What is meant by hypo- and hyperglycemia (low and high blood sugar)?
• What do I have to consider when doing sports, when traveling or when I am ill?
• What complications can occur with diabetes? How can I avoid them?
• Why is foot care so important?
• Which check-ups should I have regularly?

 

How long does training like this take?

 

Diabetic training includes a minimum of 4 to a maximum of 8 units of 50 minutes each and lasts about a week. The training hours can also be spread over several weeks.

 

What does the patient have to consider after the training?

 

Try to implement all the tips in everyday life and make sure to keep in regular contact with your doctor. It is often also possible to make lasting contacts with other participants or with self-help groups. If questions arise, an e-mail or a short call is often enough to better deal with a difficult situation.

 

Who conducts diabetes education?

 

The training courses are offered by the diabetes outpatient clinics in hospitals, by diabetes specialist practices and resident doctors who deal more intensively with diabetes, or by self-help groups.

Usually one holds

• qualified health and nurse with further training as a diabetes consultant
• a dietician
• or a doctor

Diabetes training in a one-to-one discussion or in a group (about 10 to 15 people).

 

What can the patient contribute to the success of the therapy?

 

Make a list of questions and don't be afraid to address everyday problems in the training. Other people often feel the same way about dealing with the new illness as you do, but many do not dare to ask. Try to implement what you have learned at home, a daily schedule can help.

 

Costs & health insurance

 

The costs for diabetic training are covered by health insurance or, as mentioned above, are offered free of charge by the outpatient clinics. Sometimes a deductible of about 12 Euros has to be paid for the training documents.