Include “DiaLife” training in the health insurance companies’ catalog of services
02.03.2022 17:01
Anyone who is newly diagnosed with diabetes must acquire extensive knowledge about the metabolic disease. For optimal self-management, structured patient training is therefore part of diabetes therapy. However, they usually do not involve the social environment. The psychological and emotional consequences of diabetes affect the entire family. The Association of Diabetes Consulting and Training Professions in Germany (VDBD) has developed the first training program tailored to the needs of adult family members and partners in a multi-year project funded by the Federal Ministry of Health (BMG).
The relatives training “DiaLife – living together with diabetes” closes a need gap in the diabetological care landscape. This was proven by a cluster-randomized, controlled longitudinal study with 179 participants: trained relatives have more diabetes knowledge and feel better mentally than those without training. Experts explained the details of the study today, Wednesday, March 2, 2022, as part of an online press conference organized by the VDBD. They demand, “Dia“Life” to be included in the service catalog of the health insurance companies.
Many people with diabetes feel very burdened by the daily management and possible consequences of their disease over the course of their lives. The international DAWN2™ study with more than 15,000 participants in 17 countries also showed that psychosocial and emotional stress is borne not only by those affected themselves, but also by their families (1,2). “The study also found that the majority of relatives of people with diabetes mellitus, around 75 percent, had never taken part in a training course,” explains Dr. Thank God Fabisch, Managing Director VDBD. With funding from the Federal Ministry of Health, the VDBD developed the training program “DiaLife – living together with diabetes”. In the training, relatives of adults with type 1 or type 2 diabetes learn the basics of the disease and therapy, how to deal with emergency situations, but also coping strategies to provide better social support for their sick family member.
“As part of the training courses already carried out with DiaLife “The possible development of dementia or depression was a very serious issue,” reports VDBD chairwoman Dr. rer. medic. Nicola Haller from practice. For relatives of people with type 1 diabetes, correct action in emergencies was also a priority, says Dr. Haller: “In critical situations such as hypoglycemia, relatives often do not know how to behave correctly, as those affected by diabetes sometimes no longer act rationally and refuse help.”
179 relatives of patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes took part in the scientific evaluation of the new training program. The focus of the cluster-randomized, controlled longitudinal study The survey asked whether they had more knowledge about diabetes after the training program than the control group with relatives who did not receive any training. The participants answered with slides both before and immediately after the trainingLife and again six or twelve months after the end of the training, questionnaires about the disease. “The trained relatives had greater knowledge than before and were clearly ahead of the control group,” explains Professor Dr. habil. Claudia Luck-Sikorski, scientific director of the study, adds: “They also rated their mental health as better.”
“Those who are supported by their social environment are able to better self-manage their chronic illness. This also affects the quality of life of the entire family,” says VDBD managing director Dr. Fabulously convinced. “That's why we're committed to 'DiaLife' to be included in the health insurance company's catalog of services!”