Experts highlight quality diabetes education, primary care on WDD
EXPERTS have stressed the role of improved access to quality diabetes education for health professionals and patients on the occasion of World Diabetes Day (WDD), which is marked every year on November 14.
The aim of observing WDD is to promote coordinated actions to confront diabetes as a critical global health issue. “Education to Protect Tomorrow” is the theme of World Diabetes Day 2022. This year’s campaign focuses on the need for better access to quality diabetes education for health professionals and people living with diabetes.
On the occasion, Prof. Abou-Samra, co-chair of the National Diabetes Committee and director of Qatar Metabolic Institute (QMI) highlighted that the “new model of diabetes care, as described in Qatar National Diabetes Strategy, 2016-2022, places diabetes educators at the centre of the multidisciplinary team.
To provide the best possible care for people with diabetes, “relevant strategic programmes have been focusing on increasing the pool of diabetes educators (capacity) in the system as well as the capability by providing ongoing diabetes education to healthcare professionals-through various national initiative.”
The initiatives include “establishment of a diabetes diploma and master degree in collaboration with the University of Doha for Science and Technology (UDST), the National Diabetes Strategy e-Learning modules through HMC’s Etaleem platform, delivery of the “Integrated Diabetes Care Webinars for Primary Healthcare Professional” and launch of the “Diabetes and Obesity Research Webinar Series”, according to Prof. Abou-Samra.
Dr. Kholoud Al Mutawaa, head of non-communicable diseases and diabetes lead at the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) highlighted that the “the cornerstone of the Patient Empowerment strategic pillar of the Qatar National Diabetes Strategy, 2016-2022, is to provide diabetes education and self-management tools to empower patients and enhance their health literacy to take action to improve their health outcomes and prevent complications”.
Dr. Kholoud continued by saying “diabetes management requires multiple approaches: nutritional management, physical activity, medications, glucose monitoring, and psychological adjustment; diabetes education is one of the most powerful interventions we have for keeping people with diabetes well”.
Dr. Manal Othman, director of diabetes education at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) noted the significant role of the diabetes educators in the diabetes care process. “The diabetes educator helps people with diabetes to make the necessary changes to improve their lifestyle and empower them to take the right action in case of exercise, sickness, travel etc. HMC’s National Diabetes Centres provide a range of diabetes self-management education and support services including both individualised diabetes, curriculum-based, education sessions as well as structured (face-to-face and virtual) DESMOND programme, group education sessions.
“DESMOND programme is an international group patient education program for people with type 2 diabetes adapted for people newly or with ongoing diabetes, living in the State
of Qatar. HMC’s diabetes education team is also providing phone-based emergency management consultations through the diabetes hotline”.
Dr. Samya Al-Abdulla, senior consultant, family physician and executive director of operations at Primary Healthcare Corporation (PHCC) emphasised that primary care is at the heart of the diabetes response. “Significant efforts are dedicated in building capacity and capability to ensure that primary healthcare professionals have the knowledge, time and tools not only to detect diabetes and refer patients to tertiary, but also to help those in their care better manage their condition and navigate the healthcare system”.