Importance of Structured Diabetes Education

Smokovski, Ivica

Diabetes education is an essential part of diabetes management and has to be offered to all people with diabetes in low resource countries. It results in improved diabetes care, reduced hospitalizations, and is cost-effective in the long term. Standardized dissemination and evaluation of diabetes knowledge is labeled as Structured Diabetes Education Program (SDEP). Online SDEP modules could be cost-effective solution in a setting with limited resources. Telemedicine becomes essential if people with diabetes cannot leave their homes as during the global pandemic with COVID-19. It is estimated that less than 50% of people with diabetes and 25% of their family members have access to diabetes education programs. Continuous, documented SDEP has to be performed at least at diagnosis, annually, when complicating factors arise, and when transitions in care occur. Individuals’ success after completion of SDEP should be recorded in EHRs. Currently, 20% of healthcare professionals have no postgraduate training in diabetes. It is critical that sources for diabetes education of healthcare providers in developing countries are unbiased and financed with unrestricted grants. Continuous SDEP could result in sustainable diabetes knowledge attained by people with diabetes leading to improved glycaemic control and reduced risk of diabetes complications.