The primary goal of diabetes management is to improve and maintain the quality of life for the person with diabetes.People who have diabetes are a heterogeneous group, whose ability to engage in life long self-care is affected by age, gender, culture, psychosocial status, literacy level, style of learning, physical condition and the treatment.
Successful management of diabetes can be achieved through the individualised adjustment of diet, exercise and medication. Successful self-care can be attained through patient participation in individualized education programmes, using a multidisciplinary team approach wherein the person with diabetes holds the central position.
The goal of self-care can be accomplished by improving the necessary patient knowledge and skills, and by facilitating changes in attitudes, values and beliefs.
Just as people with diabetes change with time and experience, so does diabetes care change and improve. Regular assessment and adjustment of the education plan will be needed to encourage patients to achieve and maintain optimum quality of life.
Diabetes Education is vital to the management of diabetes. It is integral to effective self-care, and has been shown to be effective in decreasing the complications in both the short and long term.
Diabetes Education is preventative in nature and associated with significant cost benefit when delivered in an effective manner.
To achieve its objectives and fulfil its role as advisory body the Diabetes Education Society of South Africa acts within its Mission Statement.
DESSA holds as its intended purpose: the welfare of the person with Diabetes Mellitus, and the provision of comprehensive education, likely to promote effective self health care, delivered in a manner that is appropriate, relevant, convenient, accessible, culturally sensitive and affordable.
Mission:
- To demonstrate leadership in diabetes education
- To provide access to expertise in diabetes education to individuals with diabetes, their families, the community, and health professionals
- To strive toward the incorporation of diabetes education into the National Health Policy
- To support the development of culturally relevant educational strategies
- To develop standards for diabetes education
- To contribute to knowledge and research related to diabetes education
Why does DESSA exist? How can one benefit from DESSA
We are the only association in SOUTH AFRICA dedicated to the Hundreds of DIABETES Educators out there who need representation at Government level and other Associations related to Diabetes.
We represent the Educators who provide the Education to the patients
We are recognized by IDF as the representatives of Diabetes Educators in South Africa
Affiliates of DESSA
UDA, IDF, Youth With Diabetes
The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) is an umbrella organization of over 230 national diabetes associations in 170 countries and territories. It represents the interests of the growing number of people with diabetes and those at risk. The Federation has been leading the global diabetes community since 1950.