Education essential to diabetes treatment

Every patient diagnosed at Hamad General Hospital's new Diabetes Center is introduced to a diabetes patient educator, who are specialist nurses and certified diabetes professionals who are there to teach them how to live well with the disease. Diabetes is a complex condition which can lead to debilitating long-term complications and acute illness. With about 17 percent of the Qatari adult population thought to have diabetes, and another 11 percent estimated to be pre-diabetic, the disease has reached epidemic proportion in Qatar. Hamad General Hospital's Diabetes Center has eight adult diabetes educators and Mrs. Manal Othman, Senior Diabetes Educator, says that good diabetes care and management can prevent or delay the onset of complications. "We work closely with our patients to set goals for maintaining their blood sugar level, and we meet with them regularly to check if they are meeting these goals and maintaining them," said Mrs. Othman. Educators also teach diabetic patients how to use their medication, whether it is in the form of tablets or insulin injections, and how to adjust the dosage depending on their blood glucose level. "We help our patients learn how to recognize the symptoms of high and low blood sugar levels and what to do when they suspect complications," says Mrs. Othman. Mrs. Othman says most patients don't carry a blood sugar meter with them so it is important for them to know the symptoms of possible complications, such as hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and hyperglycemia (high blood sugar). Diabetes patient educators also instruct patients on how to incorporate physical activity into their lifestyle and they stress the important role exercise plays in controlling blood sugar. According to Mrs. Othman, patient educators develop a teaching plan according to each patient's individual needs, as needs differ from one patient to another and also differ for women and men. Patient education also covers diabetic foot care, traveling, haj and fasting. Mrs. Othman says patient educators also teach about herbal remedies. "Patients can use natural herbs like cinnamon, fenugreek, Indian cucumber and olive leaves to reduce blood sugar levels. However, we advise them not to take any commercial products, even those that claim to be 100% natural, since these products may contain dangerous chemicals," says Mrs. Othman. Mrs. Othman says an important part of educating patients is helping them to understand the necessity of taking control of their health and making the lifestyle changes required in order to maintain good health. "If a patient is dedicated to managing their diabetes, they can live a long and healthy life," says Mrs. Othman.