Diabetes educators needed
WITH an estimated 3.6 million Malaysians living with diabetes, there is a growing number of healthcare providers building exciting career paths in diabetes education.
Pharmacist Grace Cheah says, “I saw that there are more people now who have diabetes, so I decided to further my education in this area to improve my knowledge in diabetes management.
“I am especially keen to find better ways to manage diabetesrelated complications.”
Grace is currently juggling between her job as a retail pharmacist and her studies under the Postgraduate Diploma in Diabetes Management and Education programme at International Medical University (IMU).
Commenting on the usefulness of having a diabetes educator qualification, credentialed diabetes educator Dr Tan Ming Yeong says, “Diabetes affects every aspect of a person’s life.
“Managing diabetes requires a multidisciplinary approach from professionals including physicians, nurses, pharmacists, dietitians, clinical psychologists and physiotherapist/exercise physiologists.
“When these healthcare providers upskill with a diabetes education qualification, they possess comprehensive knowledge and experience in diabetes care to promote self-management among people with diabetes for better health outcomes and quality of life.”
Dr Tan is also vice-president of the Malaysian Diabetes Educators Society and senior lecturer for the Postgraduate Diploma in Diabetes Management and Education programme.
Improving diabetes care in a way that matters
Programme director of the Postgraduate Diploma in Diabetes Management and Education and dietitian Dr Lee Ching Li happily reports that students of this course are reaping the benefits of their postgraduate learning, even before completing their studies. “The majority of students in this programme are working adult learners. This allows them to immediately transfer their new learning to benefit the patients they see at their workplace,” says Dr Lee.
Students have the opportunity to earn their Postgraduate Diploma in Diabetes Management and Education from IMU in just one year. If this is too demanding, students also have the option to stretch it to three years.
Designed to suit working adults, this programme uses a blended learning model that incorporates online learning, clinical practicum at the student’s place of work and a maximum of one week spent per semester learning at the university campus.
There are no end-of-semester examinations. Students will be assessed via in-course activities that include individual assignments, group activities and face-to-face assessments. The next intake for this programme is in March next year.
■ For more information about this or other IMU postgraduate programmes, call 03-2731 7272, email postgraduate@imu.edu.my or visit www.imu.edu.my