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What is Diabetes Education?
What is Diabetes Education?
Diabetes education is considered an essential element of diabetes management, addressing a comprehensive blend of clinical, educational, psychosocial and behavioral aspects of care.
This helps lay a foundation for empowering people living with diabetes to self-manage their condition. It is an ongoing process incorporating the needs, goals and life experiences of a person living with diabetes.
A new Consensus Report released in July 2020 summarizes the evidence on the value and benefits of Diabetes Education services with a focus on adults living with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Educator is the healthcare professional who helps people living with diabetes will be equipped with the knowledge, skills and confidence to self-manage their diabetes.
When to see a Diabetes Educator?
Four critical time points have been identified for participation in Diabetes education services would be recommended, which are:
· At diagnosis
· Annually or when target goals are not being met
· When complicating factors occur
· When transitions in life occur
These time points often coincide with moments where additional assistance and support may be required for successful daily self-management. As diabetes is a condition that changes over time, a proactive approach is required to ensure the support addresses the ever-changing needs of a person living with diabetes.
8 Reasons for having a Home Medicines Review by the Veterans’ Medicines Advice and Therapeutics Education Services. Nov 2011
8 Reasons for having a Home Medicines Review by the Veterans’ Medicines Advice and Therapeutics Education Services. Nov 2011
1. You have started a new medicine
The pharmacist will spend time with you and give you information such as:
-what the medicine is for
-how the medicine will help you
-how long you need to take it for
-special instructions for taking the medicine
2. You have recently been in hospital
There may have been changes made to your medicines while you were in hospital. During a Home Medicines Review, the pharmacist can help to make sure you are using the medicines your doctor intended, check if you may no longer need some medicines, and help keep your doctor informed about any of these changes. The pharmacist will also check that you are not doubling up on any of your medicines. This can be easy to do as medicines with the same active ingredient can have different brand names
3. You would like help to keep track of your medicines
Sometimes taking medicines can be confusing. It can be hard to remember if you have taken them at the right time. At the Home Medicines Review, a pharmacist will go through all of your medicines with you. They will give you an updated list of your medicines and advice on how to manage them.
4. You would like to make sure you are taking all of your medicines correctly
Each medicine you take can have different instructions. For example, some need to be taken with or without food or at a certain time of day, and you may need to take certain steps if you miss a dose. During a Home Medicines Review, the pharmacist can give you advice about what to do if you miss a dose and give you practical tips for how to use your medicines, such as how to use eye drops or inhalers.
5.You are concerned that your medicines are causing side effects
All medicines have possible side effects: some are very common and may go away with time; some are more serious and may require you to change your medicine or lower the dose. During a Home Medicines Review, the pharmacist can help you learn about possible side effects and what you should do if they occur. They can also help to identify if any of your medicines are causing side effects and let your doctor know about them
6. You are cared for by more than one doctor
You may be prescribed medicines from a number of different doctors and/or other health professionals. During a Home Medicines Review, the pharmacist can take a look at all of these medicines, ensure that they are all OK to take together, and give you and your doctor an up-to-date list of them.
7. You would like to know which of your medicines are OK to take together
Some medicines affect each other and shouldn’t be taken together. This includes both prescription and non-prescription medicines, bought from a health food shop, supermarket or pharmacy. Certain foods or drinks (including alcohol) can also affect some medicines. Having a Home Medicines Review can help you find out if all your medicines are OK to take together
8.You would like advice on how to store and dispose of your medicines
Some medicines need to be stored at a certain temperature or may no longer work if exposed to heat or sunlight. During a Home Medicines Review, the pharmacist can give you tips about how to store your medicines. They can also help you to safely dispose of unwanted or expired medicines.
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