Endocrine Abstracts

Background: It is impossible to provide qualified diabetes care without patient education (TPE). Effect of education on treatment outcomes was demonstrated in 1972. Unfortunately in 1970-ies we lived in society, where many progressive ideas were not acceptable. Though progress at the end of 1980-ies leading Centers started to implement TPE. Methods: In Georgia first “5-day in-patient education course” was initiated. It was carried out at our Center. The Course was based on Berger/Jorgens program. Books for type 1 and 2 DM (T1/T2 DM) were first translated into Georgian. Past 20-yrs were hard period for Georgia - economic, energy, political crises, healthcare system reorganization; no insurance system slowed integration into global processes. Due to objective reasons, regular, obligatory TPE in T2DM is not carried out, though individual training is performed. Since 2000 we realized that only TPE could not improve treatment outcomes; professional education (medical students, Society) also need attention. Results: In 2009–2010 Ministry of Health of Abkhazia carried out a 2-yr. Screening/Management Program for T1/T2DM. Around 100 people were enrolled in total. Education was an integral part of the program. Conversation Maps (CM) were used during a 4-day education course. To accelerate the process of establishing TPE and training educators, an Expert Training for healthcare providers from Georgia and other Eastern European countries is initiated this year together with IDF-Global and IDF-Europe. Number of Expert Trainers will be trained for each country. It will permit to create a basis for professional diabetes education in our country and in the region. Conclusion: Diabetes education is a complex system, where all elements are equally important. If only TPE is addressed - we will face reality where “educated patient is too expensive”. Thus, main goal is to change mentality of the whole society. This needs time and effort.

Declaration of interest: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest that could be perceived as prejudicing the impartiality of the research project.

Funding: This research did not receive any specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sector.