Putting the patient at the center of diabetes management

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

The patient must have a bigger say in diabetes care.
The role of the patient is being seen as increasingly important in the management of chronic health conditions, including diabetes. Dr Tony O'Sullivan, a physician who also lives with type I diabetes, says that the patient needs to understand what is happening - maybe by being given information in stages, following diagnosis - and to make decisions about their lifestyle. Dr O' Sullivan, who is also President Elect of the International Diabetes Federation in Europe, points out that the physician can help patients work towards long-term motivation and a level of autonomy. "Patients complain that they can never have a holiday from diabetes." This is something people with diabetes have to try to accept and learn to manage.

But patients can aspire to more than just dealing with their disease in the best way they can. They can also be resources for others - both patients and physicians. "We are experts in our own condition," says Dr O'Sullivan. In his view, investment is needed earlier in the life cycle of diabetes - that is, it is important to pay attention to the pre-diabetes state and to keep problems such as obesity under control. This would be more effective than spending resources on managing the complications of late-stage diabetes, which is what tends to be done at present.

Source
World Ageing & Generations Congress 27th September 2006

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