Self-care and foot-care management in diabetes, India

Objectives

The risk of developing diabetes in India has increased dramatically since 2010, due to various cultural changes among the population of India. Along with the growing economy, there has been a shift from eating traditional food, to the consumption of western processed fast food.

The increase in unhealthy eating habits has a direct effect on the increase in prevalence of diabetes and its complications. Among these, especially foot problems arise and it is critical to give the population the proper education about how to handle diabetes and prevent the devastating complications.

Objectives

The project will promote self-care and foot-care practices among people with diabetes. This is achieved through capacitating health care professionals, at primary and secondary level, and to manage and prevent foot complications related to diabetes. By realising these goals, morbidity and mortality, due to the disease, will hopefully be reduced in the five districts of Uttar Pradesh, India, where the project takes place.

Approach

In order to reach the objectives of the project, the following approach will be used to raise the level of awareness and access to care of diabetes.
Health Care Providers will be trained in advanced knowledge about diabetes care and management. This is done with a specific attention to diabetes related foot complications, since these are believed to be crucial for proper care.

In order to secure sustainability and minimize further diabetic incidents, community volunteers and frontline health workers on diabetes will instruct in self-management among people with diabetes. This is done during home visits where the self-management will have special emphasis on foot-care management. Further to self-management, Diabetic Clubs are established to educate and empower people with diabetes. These patients will then be able to identify new cases of diabetes and report if incidence of foot related complications increases.

In order to treat the rising number of people with foot problems related to diabetes, health camps will be conducted, where foot examination is done. Along with this examination, the change in lifestyle is also of great importance, since this is crucial in order to secure primary and secondary prevention of diabetes.

Establishment of referral networks between health camps and specialized diabetic foot care institutions is important in order to strengthen follow-up services for people with diabetes. The networks will make it possible to utilize expertise and experience of these referral institutions.

Results at completion

54 personnel (doctors, nurses and community volunteers) trained
443 health camps organized
21,988 people reached in the villages with trained HCP to propagate self-care practices and examine diabetes related complications and foot complications in diabetics.
51,195 diabetics, pre-diabetics and their family members learn self-care and foot-care practices through trained community volunteers
317 diabetes clubs formed with 3,748 members
21,988 diabetics and pre diabetics examined for foot and other related diabetes complications
Cumulatively 12,188 people provided foot care at the community