Diabetes Specialist Nurse and individualized education in the hospital

ABSTRACT Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the most common chronic diseases worldwide affecting all age groups.The disease is scientifically and clinically interesting in terms of prevention and treatment. Furthermore, it demands interdisciplinary collaboration among healthcare professionals. Τhe Diabetes Specialist Nurse (DSN) is a core member of the Interdisciplinary Diabetes Team who supports people with DM and their carers in managing their health condition. Given the aging of the population, the increasing number of people with DM, the new techniques and other complex therapeutic options, the DSN's role has become a necessity in hospitals, globally. DSN educates patients with DM with ultimate goal to achieve treatment adherence and effective self-care management. Regarding hospitalized patients, DSN provides individualized education to patients with DM and promotes self-management of the disease, thus leading to reduction of complications or hospitalization and, finally, to the improvement of their quality of life. The development of an individualized education program, which addresses the hospitalized patients' unique needs, should be consistent with the type of diabetes (type 1, type 2, etc.) and age of the person with DM.