Teaching the Diabetic Patient

SUMMARY: Education about diabetes does not consist simply in presenting the basic facts to patients. Rather, it should be directed to a real understanding of the disease and a proper attitude toward its care by both patient and physician. A more precise definition of the area for which the patient is responsible will prevent both his overstepping the bounds or, even worse, ending up completely outside medical supervision. It is entirely reasonable to propose that good medical care of each hospitalized diabetic regardless of the cause of admission is not complete until he has been educated in self-care. The responsibility for this program in the hospital should properly rest upon both the administrative and professional staffs, with the understanding that patient education is a vital facet of the minimum standards of medical care in their institution.