Building Competency in Diabetes Education THE ESSENTIALS

SELF-MANAGEMENT EDUCATION & SUPPORT: PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT| 11-9

dealing with it on a cross-national comparison?” (14). The results from all three arms of the study tell an alarming story: From the participants with diabetes (15): • 44.6% reported diabetes related distress.

• 12.2% reported “poor” or “very poor” quality of life (QOL). • 20.5% reported negative effect on family relationships. • 62.2 % reported negative effect on physical health.

• 48.8 % had attended diabetes educational programs (Canada had the highest reporting). • 23.7% reported that their health-care team asked them how diabetes impacted their life. • 81.1% of those who attended a diabetes education program found it “somewhat helpful” or “very helpful”.

From the families caring for a person with diabetes (14): • 35.3% perceived supporting a relative with diabetes as a burden. • 61.3% worried about hypoglycemia. • 44.6% reported a negative impact on emotional well-being. • 37.1% reported not knowing how to help. From the health-care professional perspective (16): • 60% reported a need for major improvement in diabetes SME. • 30.6% indicate major improvements needed in health-care organization. • 62.7% reported that improvement is needed in psychological support.

Although we have made improvements in psychosocial care for patients with diabetes, these results indicate that we have a long way to go. There is consensus that the organization of health care needs to be improved along with the self-management activities of people with diabetes. One of the avenues to work through is family involvement where informed family members can be effective supporters. In order to do this, there must be improved formal training for the health-care professional who, in turn, is supported by the system within which they function (14-16). The vast majority of providers in the DAWN study felt unprepared to