Brazil is currently undergoing a process of epidemiological transition in which non-communicable diseases and external causes are outpacing infectious and parasite diseases. With a national diabetes prevalence of nearly 10 % and a population where more than 50 % is overweight and 40 % has raised blood pressure the challenges are noticeable and will keep on rising in the future. The Brazilian health care system is furthermore made up of a complex network of public and private institutions which ads on to the challenges.To create diabetes programs in the disadvantaged areas of Brazil for use in diabetes education as a tool for monitoring and encouraging self-control and self-care by patients with diabetes and serving as an instrument preventing its complications.
The project will build on experiences gained in a previous project carried out in the south of Brazil in a partnership of Brazilian Diabetes Society (SBD), ADJ Diabetes Brasil and International Diabetes Federation where health care professionals has been trained in the south of Brazil. Capacity building will be done by theoretical, practical and interactive courses with a duration of 5 days. The courses will address issues like nutrition, risk-factors, foot care, self-monitoring, treatment, physical activity etc. The aim is to educate 60-80 health care professionals and community agents from basic health care units. Regions or citys where training will be held will be identified through local SBD or state representatives. Educational materials will also be developed for each city according to local needs. A pre and post-test on the general knowledge on diabetes will be carried out by professionals participating in the course. Fairs will be held in the cities where the course will be conducted, aiming to reach the community and people living with diabetes through projects developed by participants focused on the changes in behaviours and screening of blood sugar.
• 76 clinics strenghtened• 324 health care professionals trained based on the ‘Diabetes Educator’ model • Screening and awareness raising campaigns rolled-out in three states of Brazil• 15,000 people living with diabetes reached and to have accessed improved care