Health professional training for multi-disciplinary care of elderly patients with type II diabetes

With funding support from the Northern Wisconsin Area Health Education Center, we conducted a survey to assess continuing education needs of health care professionals providing diabetes self-care management and nutrition therapy to patients with Type II diabetes in rural northern Wisconsin and conducted a conference to address the identified needs. Of the topics surveyed, respondents ranked themselves lowest in knowledge and experience in the following areas: 1) application of revised guidelines for medical nutrition therapy, 2) considering patients, differing cultural needs, and 3) team management of diabetes. They were most comfortable with the technical aspects of care, e.g., insulin administration and blood glucose monitoring. One hundred seven health care professionals attended a one-day continuing education conference sponsored by the Eau Claire Family Practice Residency and the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire School of Nursing, to address the topics identified by the needs assessment survey.