Nearly 30% of the adult New Zealand population have either pre-diabetes or type 2 diabetes. It is essential that all of us who work in primary care are equipped to work effectively with people with diabetes. This is so people with diabetes can improve their health in the here and now, and avoid the long term complications of diabetes. 

THINK Hauora facilitate a Diabetes Care and Management Course biannually that focuses on increasing practitioner knowledge. This in turn helps better support families on their journey with diabetes.

The Diabetes Care and Management Course aims to help primary care providers to feel more comfortable, knowledgeable and skilled when it comes to working with patients and their families living with diabetes.

Louise Farmer is a Clinical Nurse Specialist: Diabetes for THINK Hauora and is one of the facilitators of the course. She believes that one of the course’s main focuses is on increasing practitioner’s knowledge while providing them with tools and ideas for working in mana enhancing and strengths-based ways.

“The participants have the opportunity on the course to practice consultation and listening styles that help to put families at the centre of their journey with diabetes,” she says.

The course provides simple techniques that can help participants guide every consult towards a positive and effective outcome.

“It links them to the most up to date and accessible decision support tools and also allows them to network with other colleagues who work in the diabetes space”.

The most recent course, which was held back in September, hosted 60 participants from a range of backgrounds including primary health care nurses, nurse practitioner candidates, secondary care nurses, pharmacists and exercise physiologists. There was overwhelming support for the course and how it was received. . Some of the comments included:

“The course was a wealth of knowledge and practice advice that is user-friendly for our patients.”

“The course provided good practical and clinical assessment guidance with great tips on how to engage patients in getting and staying active.”

The two-day course is delivered by a range of people who all work in primary health care. These include Diabetes Nurse Specialists, Exercise Physiologists, Dietitians and Clinical Pharmacologists.