Type 2 Diabetes: How Effective Are Educational Programmes in Improving Self-Management for Patient - Essay Example

Findings: The findings indicated women were more responsive to such studies than men. Nearly 50% of the patients showed good progress in all five parameters like reduction in weight, increased psychological health, and good control over glycaemic level. In the rest, 30% people showed good improvement in three of five parameters and the rest showed good improvement in any two parameters. The study was conducted over a period of 12 months time and the post-study monitoring was continued for one more year.
Conclusion: The self-management studies for Type 2 diabetes patients are very effective provided they are given in a friendly and locally accepted form, rather than in an experimental way.

Introduction
The Center for Disease Control website states nearly 17 million people in the US have diabetes. It accounts for nearly 6.2% of the total countries population. WHO says one in 10 adults worldwide has diabetes. It identifies Hypertension and Obesity as the main causes for the drastic increase in the illness. In Europe, nearly 5% of the total population is affected by Diabetes (IDF, 2007). In fact, the country implements rewards for primary health care centers controlling diabetes within their region effectively (Khunti, K et al, 2007). Most people suffer from this condition because of a lack of awareness. "Had I known earlier, I would have avoided ..." is a common phrase heard from the new diabetes patients. Even after the advent of diabetes, many people are clueless about how to handle the situation. This study aims in measuring the effectiveness of the self-education programs among patients suffering from type 2 diabetes. It analyses various studies conducted on the subject by many scholars and put forward a unique and effective plan to improvise the same.

Objectives of the Study
1. The patient, his immediate family members, and friends should understand the root cause of the illness and why it occurred.
2. Several sugar patients are completely ignoring the wounds in their bodies, which leads to several complications like amputation (Massi-Benedetti, 2002). Hence, the patients are taught exactly how to take care of themselves properly.
3. Patients are educated about taking proper medications on time and the dangers of missing them. They know how to handle themselves in times of emergency.
4. They are capable of checking their blood glucose level regularly and indicate proper results to the doctors.
5. They are well aware of the fatal side effects of the illness like cardiovascular diseases and take appropriate measures like doing regular exercises and following a proper diet to avoid the same.

Literature Review
“Diabetes mellitus (diabetes) in adults is a global health problem. It is a disorder of the endocrine system characterized by abnormal fluctuations in blood glucose levels, usually related to a defect in insulin production and glucose metabolism” (Dunning 2003). Diabetes starts as a mild illness. In course of time, it can cause fatal side effects like amputation, blindness, stroke, and cardiovascular illness. In addition to physical issues, patients undergo severe stress due to uncontrollable glycaemic levels in the body. Years of health negligence, lethargic lifestyle and dumping of sugary foods is the main cause to the illness.