Diabetes Empowerment Education Program (DEEP)
Course Content
Beginning Sessions and Understanding the Human Body
- Exercises to establish trust and solidarity among group members and to obtain the motivation and participation of all
- Description of the functioning of the human body and its relation to diabetes
- Strategies to manage and control diabetes with the goal of beginning to reinforce the importance of self-care principles
Understanding Risk Factors for Diabetes
- The definition, classification and symptoms of diabetes
- Risk factors and the Weekly Action Plan
Monitoring Your Body
- The diagnosis of diabetes, hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, and ways to control these
- Diabetes management and the benefits of the glucose meter
Get up and Move! Physical Activity and Diabetes
- Motivating participants to perform some physical activity on a regular basis and to incorporate exercise as a method to control diabetes
Controlling Diabetes through Nutrition
- Concepts and basic nutritional terms that allow participants to make correct decisions when selecting foods, including using food labels
- Portion control
Diabetes Complications: Identification and Prevention
- The main complications of diabetes
- The different specialists and health care team available for prevention and control
Learning about Medications and Medical Care
- Medications available for the control of diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol and triglycerides
- Medications’ mechanisms of action, recommendations, cautions and side effects
- How to improve communication with health care providers
Living with Chronic Disease: Mobilizing Family and Friends
- Emotional aspects of chronic disease, such as stress and depression
- Patients’ rights
- How to involve family and friends in the self-care program