What Is Diabetes Education?

Adults are self-motivated. They learn best by building on what they already know and when they are actively engaged (Lindeman, 2010). The approach of adult education revolves around non-vocational ideals and is based on experience rather than subjects (Lindeman, 2010). It helps adults gain knowledge about their powers, capacities, and limitations (Funnell et al, 2012). Diabetes education has been known to be an essential component of diabetes treatment since the early 1900s. In recent years, diabetes education has become an integral part of diabetes treatment (Piccinino et al, 2015). The 2012 National Standards for Diabetes Self-Management Education (DSME) defines education as an exchange of knowledge, tools and practices that will address

Patients need information about their illness, side effects, complication and how to care for it. Diabetes education must be effective and accurate in quality, content, and method (Atak & Arslan, 2005). Diabetes education should happen concurrently with diagnosis and throughout treatment for a patient and should involve a structured program. The Diabetes Empowerment Education Program (DEEP) was developed by the Midwest Latino Health Research Training and Policy Center at the University of Illinois at Chicago. The training format includes a training of trainers and an educational curriculum. The training of trainers targets community health workers and the educational curriculum is designed to engage community residents in self-management practices for prevention and control of diabetes. Currently, the DEEP curriculum is taught in four (4) countries and in 12 states within the United States ("Everyone with Diabetes", 2015). The program model is based on empowerment principles. For this program, empowerment is a process and an outcome. It allows people to understand their own situation and make a decision that affects their lives. DEEP applies Paulo Freire's principles of adult education which are as

The program is based on participatory education where the facilitator creates an environment that allows discovery where group participation and involvement is essential. This type of education enhances knowledge and skills for self-management, develops a critical understanding of the disease, promotes solidarity and community involvement and helps to achieve self-efficacy and change behaviors for better diabetes control ("Everyone with Diabetes",