A Process of Teaching Diabetes Self-Management
You’ve been diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes, now what? The idea and topic of diabetes can be overwhelming for anyone, from patient to provider. The content outlined in this paper reflects the need for a plan to implement and educate patients newly diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes to help them be successful in managing their diabetes and not letting diabetes take control of their lives. If you think about the idea of diabetes singularly as a diagnosis you have now just given someone a life sentence in a sense. That person will now have to think before every action for the rest of their life in terms of a diagnosis. Now, think of being that patient that is told that you now have this complex life changing disease. How do they go about learning all the things that have to be altered, adjusted, added or completely removed from their life up to that point? The medical provider bears a great deal of responsibility in managing this task and will hopefully explain to the newly diagnosed patient now living with diabetes, the multifaceted approach that will be taken in assisting this person with their new diagnosis. A key component to their success is a Diabetes Self-Management Education (“DSME”) plan that is thorough and individualized to that patient’s lifestyle and personality type.A Process of Teaching Diabetes Self-Management
Problem Statement
Diabetes is a complex chronic disease process. “Diabetes mellitus is one of the most common non-communicable diseases affecting people around the world.” (Portnip, et al 2019). What a person knows before diagnosis and at the time of diagnosis can be shown to be hindering or helpful to their treatments and outcomes. The DSME for newly diagnosed patients living with diabetes is needed to help guide them through their life changing diagnosis. Funnel, et al (2010) defines a DSME as:
“…the ongoing process of facilitating the knowledge, skill, and ability necessary for diabetes self care. This process incorporates the needs, goals, and life experiences of the person with diabetes and is guided by evidence-based standards. The overall objectives of DSME are to support informed decision-making, self-care behaviors, problem-solving and active collaboration with the health care team and to improve clinical outcomes, health status, and quality of life.” (p S89).A Process of Teaching Diabetes Self-Management
