We can explain that the title Diabetes Educator was developed to describe the common core of expertise in patient education within a multidisciplinary group of professionals. Additional health care expertise comes from the nursing, nutrition, pharmacy, medical or psychology fields that diabetes educators originate from. When a diabetes educator works with a patient, in addition to educating about diabetes and its management, we assess physical condition and treatment regimen, as well as the patient's psychological abilities. We give care, counsel and recommend medical treatment changes. Most change begins with knowledge.
Education results in learning.
Studies have demonstrated this. Ongoing education of patients about self management is fundamental to good diabetes care. It is as indispensable as medical management. Changing or adopting self care behaviors is a result of many influences in addition to knowledge such as mental health, motivation, access to resources, social setting and competing life demands. Some behaviors are more difficult to adopt than others.