Health education in diabetes type 1

Children and adolescents suffering from diabetes type 1 are exposed to acute and chronic complications. Acute complications occur
suddenly and are a direct threat to life. Chronic complications run initially asymptomatic and are long acting major cause of disability and
reduce the life of patients. Education is considered today not only as supportive treatment, but also as one of the cornerstones of therapy
for diabetes. It combines all the factors that affect the proper and optimal healing process. These include factors dependent on the therapeutic
team, such as the implementation of appropriate treatment protocol and the wide concept of nursing care. Appropriate diet, selfcontrol
and taking exercise depend on the patient and his family. According to Joslin, the founder of modern diabetology, ‘the more the sick
know about the specifics of diabetes, the longer they live’. Well-conducted education provides glycemic control, prevents the occurrence
of acute and chronic complications. The work presents the classification, objectives, indications, advantages and disadvantages of individual
and group education as well as self-education and discusses the classification of teaching methods and teaching aids. It shows principles
which should guide every educator, and stresses the importance of the factors affecting the educational process and its outcome.

Nursing Topics 2011; 19 (3): 411–415