More training required
29.08.2017 10:45
Almost 30 percent of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus do not receive any diabetes training, but according to VDBD (Association of Diabetes Consulting and Training Professions in Germany) managing director Dr. Gottlobe Fabisch is essential for good self-management. The VDBD calls on politicians to provide more support to non-medical health professionals such as diabetes consultants and assistants by adequately remunerating services such as diabetes training.
“This professional group is essential in order to be able to offer qualified training and support diabetes patients in dealing with their disease,” explains VDBD managing director Dr. Praise God Fabisch. In order to make the field of work in diabetology patient-friendly, support from health policy is also sought. The VDBD calls for more initiative from politicians and payers in order to improve the professional profile of diabetes consultants both socially and financially.
“These include, among other things, nationwide recognition of further training to become a diabetes consultant as an independent profession, a simplification of billing for prevention services and adequate remuneration for additional services that the current billing system does not cover,” adds Dr. rer. medic. Nicola Haller, VDBD chairwoman.
The German Society for Endocrinology recommends that all patients with diabetes mellitus receive specific training when initiating drug therapy (Making smart decisions in endocrinology). With the help of training and advice - the basic tasks of diabetes consultants and assistants - complications such as blood sugar imbalances can be avoided and the quality of life of patients can be improved. “People with diabetes need lifelong therapeutic training and advice for successful self-management and the best possible adherence to therapy,” explains Haller. In diabetes training courses, diabetes counselors or assistants teach patients the basic skills needed to carry out therapy independently, such as measuring blood sugar, taking medication and changing their diet.
The use of structured training and treatment programs is anchored in the disease management programs (DMP) of the health insurance companies and required in the evidence-based national care guidelines for the treatment of diabetes mellitus. Despite enrollment in the diabetes mellitus disease management program, according to the VDBD, only 71.8 percent of patients with type 2 diabetes were considered trained by 2015 (Quality report disease management programs North Rhine 2015).