Considerable attention, in terms of money and research, is given to diseases such as cancer and heart disease. When attention is focused on the diagnosis of diabetes by the medical/paramedical world, it tends to center on the understanding of the biochemical process and hopeful cures of the disease. This aspect is indeed crucial, but attention should also be given to the effects inherent in this diagnosis which have tremendous impact on the individuals' ability to accomplish the tasks required by their life-style/role. For example, there is the housewife who cannot satisfactorily perform her chores because she is blind and there is a numbness in her hands. In order to enable her to more adequately and satisfactorily perform, she needs education and training in homemaking skills as well as an increased activity level. As can be noted, the daily self-care, work, and leisure activities that make up an individual's occupational role are seriously affected by diabetes. These patients can become more aware of their own personal resources to prevent and to combat the tolls of the disease with proper early education and training. An early therapeutic program can and should more realistically direct the patient's personal attention to “What can I do to assist in my treatment? What can I do to prevent complications in the future?”
With this in mind, an Occupational Therapy Diabetic Program has been developed. The program is designed to enhance the knowledge of diabetic patients to the extent that they know, through verbalization and demonstration, the practical application of basic principles that will allow for more independence in their occupational role.
