Embedding Education into Diabetes Practice

The current epidemics of diabetes, obesity and related disorders makes lifestyle modification paramount in preventive and therapeutic interventions. This volume describes the rationale, history, methodologies and current international recommendations that make education an integral part of modern diabetes care. It also contains updated reports of results of clinical trials and/or practical experiences in North America, the Netherlands, Germany and Italy. Descriptions are given of the methods used both in general practice and in the hospital setting to train patients on, among others, nutrition, self-care and prevention of disease complications. Studies on the economic impact of patient education have until now been conspicuously missing and a cost-efficacy analysis of the Group Care approach developed in Italy is presented here. The last chapter offers a look into the future, describing how similar principles could also be embedded successfully in the care of people suffering from chronic diseases other than diabetes. The present volume of Frontiers in Diabetes will be of particular interest to all health care providers involved in the daily management of patients with diabetes or other chronic diseases.