Diabetes is a chronic ailment that affects nearly 62 million people1 in India during their most productive years (20 to 79 years). The disease exposes them to major health issues, such as blindness, strokes, heart attacks, amputations, nerve damage and kidney diseases. But, if it is managed well, people with diabetes can live peaceful and healthy lives.

However, managing the disease can be quite challenging. The daily routine involves eating a proper healthy diet, doing physical activity, closely observing your condition, taking prescribed medication and preempting the risk of complications. Often, all this might seem overwhelming.

Yet, diabetes is mostly a “self-care” disease, which means that most often you are in control of many daily decisions that have an impact on your condition. This obligation puts an individual suffering from diabetes in the driver’s seat of his/her personal healthcare team. This could be quite stressful for the person.

So, what is the most essential tool one would need to effectively manage

diabetes?

Knowledge

In today’s age of information, there is indeed no dearth of books/magazines dealing with diabetes, and web-based information of this medical condition. however the data about diabetes is not always reliable, some of the information is written by common people out of their experience without complete understanding.

But how does one decide whether the diabetes-related material you lay hands on is safe and worth acting upon? This is where the role of a Diabetes Educator comes into play.

A Certified Diabetes Educator is a professionally qualified registered nurse, dietitian, or pharmacist who can provide diabetes-related self-management education or training. They are an absolute add-on to your diabetologist.

They provide special training to help you manage diabetes and avert complications. They can guide you to understand your condition better. Also, they can assist you to follow the treatment plan charted for you.

Here are four noteworthy reasons you need a diabetic educator at home since home can be as safe a place as any to extend healthcare services to sick persons.

Assistance in understanding the

functions of your body

Your diabetes educator will aid you in understanding all that is happening inside your body. You'll get to know the best methods of everyday self-care and how daily decisions involving physical activity, diet planning, testing your blood sugar, monitoring your medication, and examining your feet (to keep an eye on your health condition) — and the risks you stand to face in case of complications.

Make sense of your test results

A diabetes educator can instruct you on the basic diabetes care you should be getting from your doctor. These include the A1C test, foot examination, and cholesterol & blood pressure checks. A diabetes educator can explain what the results mean to you and indicate ways to improve on these. He/she will abide by the doctor’s prescription and work with you to adhere to it.

Reduce Health Risks from the

comfort of your home

Diabetes increases your risk of contracting diseases related to your heart, kidneys and gums. It also results in nerve damage and eye problems. Smoking deteriorates these risks. A diabetes educator can assist you, in the comfort of your home, to let go of any harmful habits you might have cultivated over the years. This reduces the chances of complications arising as a result of diabetes. However, despite the care, if complications do arise, a diabetes educator can direct you to the required medical help you need.

Saving patients’ time and pre-empting

hospital infections

Diabetes can be devastating, if not properly cared for. It can be tough to stick to your diabetes treatment plan when you feel it’s going beyond a threshold. When you feel stressed, you might not feel motivated to work or stay active. Also, patients are easily liable to contract various sorts of infections during the course of their stay in hospitals. A diabetes educator can proffer support in such times and help you stay focused from the comfort of your home.

Diabetes is almost reaching potentially epidemic proportions in India. The level of mortality due to diabetes and complications arising out of it are fast increasing, posing significant burdens on both families and society. Diabetes is now seen as being associated with a slew of complications and to be occurring at a relatively younger age in the country. In India, factors affecting the increase in diabetes include the steady migration of people from rural to urban areas, the economic boom, and corresponding change in lifestyle.

Besides, for people suffering from diabetes, it can prove to be a drain on their financial resources. To preempt this situation, diabetes management education is the solution. It provides the patient with the required tools and solutions to improve his/her quality of life despite suffering from the disease.

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