Knowledge of diabetes and basic skills in managing the disease are essential to help people with diabetes avoid complications associated with their condition. Patient education has proven effective in both preventing and delaying the acute and chronic complications of diabetes. However, in the Caribbean, diabetes education is not given due priority, leaving many individuals with diabetes without the necessary knowledge and skills to manage their condition effectively.The project's primary goal is to conduct basic and advanced training courses for diabetes educators in the Caribbean.
The North American Region of the International Diabetes Federation has already conducted two comprehensive courses for training diabetes educators in the Caribbean over four years. This current project aims to complete another such program, utilizing five educators from the previous program as trainers.The course comprises the following components:1. Five-Day Training Session: The first phase of the course spans five days and is based on the IDF curriculum. It includes lectures supplemented with practical experience, small group work, role-play, and demonstrations.2. Year-Long Project: Following the five-day training, 45 participants will undertake a one-year project in their communities to educate people with diabetes or healthcare professionals. All projects should aim to increase awareness of diabetes and its health risks or enhance the care of people with diabetes.3. Three-Day Advanced Programme: A three-day advanced program will be conducted at the end of the year. During this phase, five of the 45 participants will be selected and trained to become trainers for the subsequent diabetes education course.This project's approach, where new trainers are chosen from among previous participants, will have a multiplying effect. It ensures that an additional group of healthcare providers gains in-depth knowledge of diabetes and can train another core group that will independently host future programs.
-36 health care providers from 11 countries were trained to provide people with diabetes the necessary knowledge and skills they need to effectively manage their diabetes.- Provided teaching skill training to five more students from previous diabetes education programs, whose role is to provide the course to other health care professionals within their country and to teach their patients good diabetes care and management.