"Back to School" - Educational Programs for Patients with Diabetes Mellitus

Therapeutic education of patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) has become an important and mandatory component of the comprehensive treatment of this disease. This approach combines several disciplines, such as medicine, pedagogy and psychology, which makes it a unique field aimed at improving the health and quality of life of patients. The goal of therapeutic education is not only to provide information about the disease, but also to teach the patient self-monitoring skills, proper nutrition, independent adjustment of insulin doses, and recognition of signs of possible complications. Effective management of diabetes is impossible without patient participation. Continuous glucose monitoring, timely adjustments of insulin doses and adherence to dietary recommendations require conscious and active participation of the patient in the treatment process. Therapeutic education helps patients better understand their condition, realize the importance of self-monitoring and improve their disease management skills. Thus, education becomes an integral part of treatment, ensuring the achievement of long-term goals of maintaining optimal glycemia and preventing the development or progression of complications. Since the end of the 20th century, Russia has begun to develop its own school of therapeutic training for patients with diabetes. Various programs have been created, including courses for patients and their relatives, seminars with doctors. These programs have proven their effectiveness in the long term, which is confirmed by the improvement of carbohydrate metabolism compensation indicators in patients with diabetes, as well as a decrease in the frequency of hospitalizations and complications. Thus, therapeutic education as part of comprehensive diabetes care not only improves individual patient health outcomes but also has a positive impact on the overall efficiency of the healthcare system.