Diabetes educators' course on the anvil

Updated on: Friday, May 27, 2011

The world over it is being recognised that a strong behaviour change communication strategy is essential for preventing and treating non-communicable, chronic diseases.

For instance in diabetes, the treating specialist has little or no time to push home the message of course correction (giving up smoking, alcohol consumption, taking up exercise) to patients. Behaviour change, however, is complex, requiring persistence and guidance to see a patient shift to a healthier lifestyle. It is to meet this demand-supply gap that a cadre of Diabetes educators are being envisaged.

“While there are qualified Diabetes Educators with their own associations in the United States, we do not have a similar system here in India. Over the years, while handling patients and their family members, we have realised that we need a dedicated cadre of people to talk to patients on these issues,” says V. Mohan of Dr. Mohan's Diabetes Specialities Centre, in a chat with The Hindu.

That is how the National Diabetes Educator Program emerged, supported by the International Diabetes Federation, and the Indian Association of Diabetes Educators.

“Frankly, physicians do not have the time to answer questions that patients pose. Also, patients are sometimes hesitant to ask their doctor questions. This is where the DE will step in,” explains Shilpa Joshi, president, IADE. She is one of the course directors, along with Shashank Joshi, diabetologist, and Dr. Mohan.

The DE will be a bridge between the patient and the doctor and is, essentially, the problem-solver for patients. While treatment itself is left to the professional, the DE can provide timely advice and counsel patients more frequently. Workshops to train the trainers have been launched. The intention is to train at least 1000 persons by the end of the year. The programme is to run for five years, Dr. Mohan says.

Ideally, science graduates can apply; and people with a nutrition or counselling background will be better suited for the course. It will be conducted over 10 months, with contact classes on Sundays. The course will use the IDF's standardised syllabus with appropriate cultural modifications.

Diabetes educators' course on the anvil

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