Helping Patients Care For Themselves

Diabetes educators play an important role in partnering with patients to help them understand the causes of diabetes and what they can do to improve their health.

By Nancy Giguere, Star Tribune Sales and Marketing

Last update: September 24, 2007 - 9:58 AM

Each day, approximately 2,200 people are diagnosed with diabetes, according to the American Association of Diabetes Educators. When patients are first diagnosed, they may experience emotions such as fear, anger, denial, frustration, depression and uncertainty about how to best care for themselves.

That's where the diabetes educator comes in.

Understanding The 'Why'

Diabetes educators partner with patients and families to help patients learn self-management and gain control of their disease. "This is one of the most gratifying areas of nursing," says Kris Jensen, a diabetes nurse clinician at the Abbott Northwestern Hospital Diabetes Center.

Jensen and her colleague Sara Preston care primarily for outpatients, working collaboratively with physicians to help people stay healthy and avoid complications. Most of their patients have type 2 diabetes, although they also see individuals with type 1 and pregnant women with gestational diabetes.

The nurses consult with patients individually and, when necessary, provide case management for those who are having difficulty controlling their blood sugar. "For example, after adjusting their insulin, we may call or e-mail them once or twice a week to see how they're doing," Jensen says.

Jensen and Preston also teach classes to small groups of newly diagnosed patients. Topics include the physiology of diabetes and how to use a meter to monitor blood sugar. Participants also learn about the importance of nutrition, how to plan meals and other aspects of diabetes management.

"When people understand the 'why,' they tend to take better care of themselves," Jensen says.

'I Can Do This'

An important part of diabetes education is teaching patients how to use insulin. "When they come in they're often afraid and defensive. But after we talk them through the first injection, they usually say, 'This isn't going to be so hard. I can do this.' Most go on to get good control of their blood sugar, and things generally get more positive," Jensen says.

Sometimes, it takes awhile for patients to take action. Preston was once asked to see a woman hospitalized for asthma that was complicated by diabetes. Preston gave her information about upcoming classes, but she never came.

The woman was hospitalized again. "Something had changed in her life," Preston says. "She has since completed three classes. She's lost weight, and her diabetes is better controlled. Her asthma is still a challenge, but in general, she's feeling better."

An Increasing Demand

"I love to teach. And I like working on prevention so that patients don't end up in the hospital," Preston says. Jensen notes that the field is changing so rapidly that there's always something new to learn.

Both women are experienced nurses with four-year nursing degrees. Jensen is a certified diabetes educator. Preston is currently working toward certification. "This is a very specialized area, and it's tough to find nurses who are certified," Jensen says.

But as diabetes becomes more widespread - the World Health Organization expects the number of cases to skyrocket to 300 million worldwide by 2025 - the demand for certified diabetes educators will also increase.

Nancy Giguere is a freelance writer from St. Paul who has written about healthcare since 1995.

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