The World Diabetes Day (WDD) is marked every year on November 14th and aims to promote the importance of coordinated actions to confront diabetes as a critical global health issue. “Education to Protect Tomorrow” is the theme of World Diabetes Day 2022. This year’s campaign focuses on the need for better access to quality diabetes education for health professionals and people living with diabetes.
Prof. Abou-Samra, Co-Chair of the National Diabetes Committee and Director of Qatar Metabolic Institute (QMI) highlighted that “the new model of diabetes care, as described in Qatar National Diabetes Strategy, 2016-2022, places diabetes educators at the center of the multidisciplinary team. Relevant strategic programs have been focusing on increasing the pool of diabetes educators (capacity) in the system as well as the capability by providing ongoing diabetes education to healthcare professionals -through various national initiative such as the establishment of a diabetes diploma and Master degree in collaboration with the University of Doha for Science and Technology (UDST), the National Diabetes Strategy e-Learning modules through HMC’s E-taleem platform, delivery of the “Integrated Diabetes Care Webinars for Primary Healthcare Professional” and launch of the “Diabetes and Obesity Research Webinar Series” -to provide the best possible care for people with diabetes”.
Dr. Kholoud Al Mutawaa, Head of Non-Communicable Diseases and Diabetes Lead at the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) highlighted that “on the cornerstone of the Patient Empowerment strategic pillar of the Qatar National Diabetes Strategy, 2016-2022, is to provide diabetes education and self-management tools to empower patients and enhance their health literacy to take action to improve their health outcomes and prevent complications”. Dr. Kholoud continued by saying that “diabetes management requires multiple approaches: nutritional management, physical activity, medications, glucose monitoring, and psychological adjustment; diabetes education is one of the most powerful interventions we have for keeping people with diabetes well”.
Dr. Manal Othman, Director of Diabetes Education at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) noted the significant role of the diabetes educator in the diabetes care process. The diabetes educator helps people with diabetes to make the necessary changes to improve their lifestyle and empower them to take the right action in case of exercise, sickness, travel etc. HMC’s National Diabetes Centres provide a range of diabetes self-management education and support services including both individualized diabetes, curriculum-based, education sessions as well as structured (face-to-face and virtual) DESMOND program, group education sessions. DESMOND program is an international group patient education program for people with type 2 diabetes adapted for people newly or with ongoing diabetes, living in the State of Qatar. HMC’s diabetes education team is also providing phone-based emergency management consultations through the diabetes hotline”.
Dr. Samya Al-Abdulla, Senior Consultant, Family Physician and Executive Director of Operations at Primary Healthcare Corporation (PHCC) emphasized that “primary care is at the heart of the diabetes response. Significant efforts are dedicated in building capacity and capability to ensure that primary healthcare professionals have the knowledge, time and tools not only to detect diabetes and refer patients to tertiary, but also to help those in their care better manage their condition and navigate the healthcare system. The coordination with the National Diabetes Strategy has been a significant enabler in establishing a robust multidisciplinary diabetes care model in primary care”.
Source: Ministry of Public Health