Diabetes education: Ideas into action

Abstract

AbstractPatient education has always been considered an essential part of the management of diabetes mellitus. A variety of educational methods, of varying levels of complexity and sophistication, exist. In the pursuit of efficient methods of education it is often overlooked that the relationship between education and glycaemic control, or education and the patients' subsequent behaviour, is not at all clear‐cut. Participation in an educational programme does not necessarily result in any long‐term change in control or behaviour. This essay examines the role played by education, and places it in the context of other variables which are known to affect outcome. It is suggested that the importance of education lies, not simply in the transmission of information, but in a number of other functions including an increase in self‐confidence and the ability to cope. It is further suggested that an educational programme should concentrate on teaching practical management skills. Although preferred by some patients, conventional teaching methods are less valuable than active experiential ones.