Diabetics Want More Hearing

    

    

Doctors newspaper online, 19.10.2019

    

        
        
        

Thank you for your rating

        
    

    

     

    

• 

        

• 

        
        
    

    

Current Survey

A poll among people with diabetes puts their finger on the wound: many feel left alone by politics.

BERLIN. According to many Germans, diabetology should be upgraded and more attention paid to the disease as a whole. This is suggested by a recent survey of diabetesDE – German Diabetes Assistance among more than 1500 people with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

86 percent of respondents feel that they are not adequately represented in politics. 89 percent think that the public is not well informed about diabetes. In addition, 44 percent of respondents reported that they did not receive training after their initial diagnosis.

To close this gap in the care, the position of the diabetes advisors should also be upgraded, says dr. Gottlobe Fabisch, Managing Director of the Association of Diabetes Counseling and Training Professions in Germany. The motto must be: "More attractiveness through better framework conditions."

Coalition wants to reform training paths

This also includes converting the further education program "Diabetes Consultant DDG" into a three-year dual training occupation, according to Fabisch. This has to be done on the basis of a federally regulated professional code. The chances for that would not be bad, according to the expert.

For example, the Union and the SPD had inscribed in their coalition agreement that they wanted to improve the health professions and reform training paths. This opportunity must also grab the profession of diabetes counselors at the head. There is a need for young diabetes professionals – just because of the rising number of patients.

The approximately 4,700 diabetes consultants who have successfully completed training in the past three decades may not be able to meet the demand for skilled workers in some regions today.

The president of the German Diabetes Association, Professor Monika Kellerer, agrees: "Diabetes treatment always takes place in a team." Without medical and professional careers, competent diabetological care in clinics and in the outpatient medical sector would be almost unthinkable. (hom)

• 

    

• 

    
    

        

More articles from this topic