Diabetes care: strengthening healthcare providers through therapeutic patient education

---

Extract from the article: The NGO Mutualistes sans frontières, in collaboration with the non-communicable disease surveillance division, is organizing a training workshop on therapeutic education for type 2 diabetes patients in Lomé from October 17 to November 3, aimed at aro

---

The NGO Mutualistes sans frontières, in collaboration with the non-communicable disease surveillance division, is organizing a training workshop on therapeutic education for type 2 diabetes patients in Lomé from October 17 to November 3, aimed at around 50 healthcare providers in Greater Lomé. The goal is to enable caregivers to better support patients in the daily management of their diabetes.

Faced with the silent but alarming spread of diabetes in Togo, experts agree on one essential point: medical care is no longer enough. The most powerful weapon for the long-term fight against this chronic disease is in the hands of healthcare providers... provided they are trained in therapeutic patient education (TPE).

During these training days, general practitioners, pharmacists, paramedics, diabetes educators, and peer educators will gain a better understanding of the pathophysiology and risk factors of diabetes, master national screening and monitoring protocols, and deepen their knowledge of therapeutic patient education (TPE). Through this training, they will be well equipped to support communities in promoting healthy lifestyles. The training is provided by Dr. Serges Kodjo, endocrinologist, diabetologist, and nutritionist at Sylvanus Olympio University Hospital, and Ms. Patricia Cohen Solal, state-registered nurse (IDE) and dietitian from Nice, France.

It is part of the « Maison du Diabète » (Diabetes House) project, which is a facility for patients with type 2 and gestational diabetes. The aim of this project is to promote the prevention of health risks associated with diabetes and to develop a prevention and support program in collaboration with French and Togolese health professionals and specialists.  The « Maison du Diabète » project is supported by the Bè Development Committee, the Bè Community Center, the Gulf Town Halls, the Maison du Diabète et des Risques Cardiovasculaires des Alpes-Maritimes, and Mutualistes Sans Frontières.

Therapeutic education, an integral and permanent part of patient care

According to the 2021 STEPS survey, the prevalence of diabetes among the population aged 18 to 69 is 4.9%. Given this situation, therapeutic education for diabetic patients is emerging as a key strategy for improving care, promoting patient autonomy, and preventing complications.

According to Dr. Serges Kodjo, therapeutic education is not just a « lesson » given to the patient, but a dialogue, a joint effort to develop a care plan with the patient, taking into account their priorities, constraints, and resources. « Healthcare providers must give patients knowledge about their disease (type of diabetes, possible complications, role of diet, exercise, treatments) and teach them skills to manage their daily lives and, above all, encourage them to take an active role in their own health », he says.

Therapeutic patient education consists of helping patients acquire skills to better manage their illness. It involves a continuous, interactive approach centered on the individual and their experience. Studies conducted in other West African countries, such as Benin and Mali, show that patients enrolled in TPE programs have better glycemic control, take their medication more regularly, and adopt more sustainable health behaviors. TEP, adds Patricia Cohen Solal, improves the quality of life of people with diabetes and reduces the number of diabetes complications by improving glycemic control and monitoring. “Therapeutic education is an essential tool in the management of chronic diseases, necessary for motivation and the acquisition of appropriate knowledge, skills, and attitudes by the patient,” said Ms. Cohen Solal.

The vice president of the NGO Mutualistes Sans Frontières, Ms. Nora Mallem, reaffirmed her commitment to strengthening local capacities for better management of chronic diseases, using a humane, supportive, and sustainable approach.

Professor Mofou Belo, head of the non-communicable disease surveillance division, showed that the prevalence of diabetes is constantly increasing, linked to lifestyle changes, rapid urbanization, sedentary lifestyles, and unhealthy eating habits. This situation calls for an urgent, coordinated, and sustainable response based on prevention, early detection, and adequate care for those affected, he recommended.

The fight against diabetes will not be won solely in laboratories or hospitals, but also in health centers, homes, markets, villages, etc., through better-trained caregivers who are able to convey the right actions and information. The future of thousands of Togolese diabetes patients depends on it.

William O.