Diabetes Patient Education: A Health Care Provider Perspective

Diabetes patient educa tion, a preventive health service, is an integral component of the overall program of care for the diabetic patient. Affecting both biomedical and psychosocial status, it may be analyzed through its knowledge- and behavior-based com ponents. Both are impor tant to the overall result, and each involves distinct provider knowledge and skills for successful, effec tive application. This application optimally in cludes a reproducible process involving a needs assessment, educational content planning, im plementation strategies, and appropriate evaluative methods. Familiarity with these concepts and tech niques will benefit the interested health care provider.