Phylis Kiiru
RN, Diabetes Nurse Educator
Kenyatta National Hospital


A collaborative process through which people
gain knowledge and skills needed to modify
their behavior and successfully manage their
diabetes –It is interactive and on going
A diabetes educator is a healthcare
professional who helps a person with
diabetes achieve behavior change goals that
lead to better clinical outcomes and improved
health status. The role has evolved from a
teacher to a facilitator.





Impart accurate, up-to-date knowledge on
diabetes
Demonstrating practical self care techniques
to enhance self care skills
Promote behavioural changes in both pple
with diabetes and the general population
Empower clients, to be more proactive and
involved in their care
Primary and secondary prevention of diabetes



Provision of diabetes education
Monitor pts management and goal
achievement
Assist in choice of insulin regimen and dose
adjustment
Help promote independence to self
management
 Teaching problem solving skills

DSME: Existing Evidence
Clinical
Outcomes
Empowerment
Group Education
Ongoing
Support
Goal Setting
Behavioral Based
Diabetes education is effective for improving clinical
outcomes and quality of life, at least in the short-term
DSME has evolved from primarily didactic presentations
to more theoretically based empowerment models
Group education is effective
Ongoing support is critical to sustain progress made with
DSME
Behavioral goal-setting supports self-management
behaviors
Using behavioral and psychosocial strategies improves
outcomes
Benefits of Diabetes Education
Immediate
Learning*
Knowledge
Skills
Intermediate
Behaviour
Change*
Exercise
Diet
Taking medication
Monitoring
Problem-solving
Reducing risk
Healthy coping
Post-Intermediate
Clinical
Improve
ment
Clinical Indicators
• HbA1c
• BP
• Lipids
Process Measures
• Eye exam
• Foot exam
Other Measures
• Smoking cessation
• Aspirin use
• Pre-pregnancy
counselling
Long Term
Improved
Health Status
Overall Health Status
Quality of Life
Days Lost From
Work or School
Diabetes
Complications
Healthcare Costs









Understanding diabetes(basics of diabetes)
Meal planning
Self monitoring
Exercise
Medication
Hyper and Hypoglycemia
Foot and skin care
Risk surveillance/Annual review
Sick day management
Available Diabetes Education Tools
 Diabetes Conversation Map tool
 Brochures
 Leaflets
 Posters
Conversation Map™ Education Tools
Diabetes Conversations
A program which aims to seek out and deliver
cutting-edge diabetes education resources
Features Conversation Map Tools
Highly visual and interactive diabetes educational
tools created by Healthy Interactions in collaboration
with the International Diabetes Federation,
sponsored by Lilly Diabetes
Components of a Conversation Map™
Experience
1
Large Visual
2
Information
3
Conversation
Questions
4
Group
Interaction
5
Facilitator
6
Action Plan
Diabetes Conversation Map™ Education Tools (1 of 3)
Walking Together with Diabetes
Diabetes Conversation Map™ Education Tools (2 of 3)
Living in a Family with Type 1 Diabetes
Diabetes Conversation Map™ Education Tools (3 of 3)
Diabetes and Caring for Your Feet
Realities and Challenges
 People want simple solutions to complex problems
 In many cases, people will “tolerate” what health
care professionals have to say, but they ultimately
will act on their own conclusions*
 There is tremendous power in speaking with
someone in the same situation as you
CONCLUSION-why advocate?
 It is the right of every patient with diabetes to have
diabetes education, poor or no education cannot
suffice and can result in serious complications
 Diabetes education has been recognized as a key
component in diabetes management,(it is the
CORNER STONE)
 The main aim is to improve knowledge, enhance
behavior change, help achieve optimal health status,
improve QOL, and reduce the need to costly health
care
Asanteni! Baraka!