“Back to school again” — education programs for patients with diabetes mellitus

Therapeutic education for patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) has become an important and mandatory component of the comprehensive management of this disease. This approach integrates several disciplines such as medicine, pedagogy and psychology, making it a unique field aimed at improving the health and quality of life of patients. The goal of therapeutic education is not only to provide information about the disease, but also to teach the patient self-management skills, proper nutrition, self-adjustment of insulin doses, and recognizing the signs of possible complications.

Effective management of DM is impossible without the patient’s participation. Continuous monitoring of glucose levels, timely adjustments of insulin doses and compliance with dietary recommendations require the patient’s informed and active participation in the treatment process. Therapeutic education helps patients to better understand their condition, recognize the importance of self-management and improve their disease management skills. Thus, education becomes an integral part of treatment, ensuring the achievement of long-term goals for maintaining optimal glycemia levels and preventing the development or progression of complications.

Since the end of the 20th century, Russia began to develop its own school of therapeutic education for patients with diabetes mellitus. Various programs were created, including courses for patients and their relatives, seminars with doctors. These programs have proven to be effective in the long term, as evidenced by the improvement of carbohydrate metabolism compensation indicators in patients with diabetes, as well as a reduction in the frequency of hospitalizations and complications.

Thus, therapeutic education within the framework of comprehensive diabetes treatment not only contributes to the improvement of individual health indicators of patients, but also has a positive impact on the overall efficiency of the health care system.

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