The Importance of Diabetes Education

Despite all the advances in diabetes treatment, education remains the cornerstone of diabetes management. People with diabetes, unlike those with many other medical problems, can't just take pills or insulin in the morning, then forget about their health the rest of the day. Differences in diet, exercise levels, stress and other factors may all affect blood sugar levels. So the more people with diabetes learn how these factors affect them, the better control they will be able to achieve.
People also need to know what they can do to help prevent or decrease the risk of complications of diabetes. For example, it is estimated that proper foot care can eliminate 75 percent of all amputations performed on people with diabetes!
Although diabetes education classes are useful for providing general information, we at the Diabetes and Hormone Center of the Pacific believe education should be tailored to the specific needs of each patient. Our Center provides a comprehensive evaluation of each patient's medical condition, current activities and dietary intake, performed by a team that includes a physician, a diabetes educator and a dietitian. An individualized treatment plan is then developed to address each person's physical, emotional, dietary and educational needs.