I am Kamar Alfathima Binti Muhamad Hanif Irusan. As a practicing clinical dietitian, I face challenges in educating patients with diabetes beyond dietary management. I often encounter gaps in my education methods, particularly in encouraging patients to adhere to their comprehensive treatment plans, which include lifestyle changes, medication, and regular monitoring. Addressing non-compliance is crucial, as it can lead to poor diabetes control and complications.
That is why I found the Diabetes Education and Management programme at IMU to be exceptionally valuable. The curriculum was meticulously designed to cover a wide range of essential topics for effective diabetes management, including psychosocial perspectives, advancements in diabetes care, different treatment approaches for special groups with diabetes, and effective patient education techniques.
The programme content is both comprehensive and current, incorporating the latest research and guidelines in diabetes care. This ensured that we were learning the most up-to-date and evidence-based practices. All the lecturers were experts in their field and conveyed complex concepts in a clear and accessible manner, making the learning process engaging and enjoyable.
One of the highlights of the programme was the interactive case study discussion session of “applying my learn patient with microvascular and macrovascular complication”. The discussion involved reviewing the case management of a patient with microvascular and macrovascular complications from a multidisciplinary perspective and interacting with a person living with diabetes. This approach allowed us to apply theoretical knowledge to real-life scenarios, enhancing our problem-solving and counseling skills. These practical sessions were instrumental in building my confidence to provide tailored education and management to patients with diabetes.
Additionally, the programme fostered a collaborative learning environment, encouraging discussions and knowledge sharing among peers from diverse healthcare backgrounds: pharmacist, dietitian and nurse. This interdisciplinary approach enriched the learning experience and provided a broader perspective on diabetes care management.
Overall, this programme has greatly enriched my understanding of diabetes management and has equipped me with the skills necessary to effectively educate and support patients with diabetes. I highly recommend this programme to anyone interested in specializing in diabetes care.
