Many thanks to the donors, Dr. Stanley Music and Natia Gvatua Music;
and United Way of Tri-State via the Merck Pharmaceutical Employee Contributions Plan


Final Report
Education for Life: Help Others Manage Diabetes

Center of Information and Education in Diabetes, Tbilisi, Georgia
Contact person: Dr. Ketevan Vashakidze, Diabetologist- educator, Director
Date of grant: March 1, 2000 Date of report: August 8, 2000

Since 1997, the Diabetes Education and Information Center has organized educational programs and self- management care for diabetics, in order to improve diabetes control. Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease and therefore education in self-management is to be continued during the whole life. That's why our outreach project "Education for Life: Help Others Manage Diabetes" funded by the Virtual Foundation, was a logical continuation of our work.

"Education for Life" began in March 2000. During the first month we distributed our functions, and registered patients into groups. The following month we began training and screening program for 100 patients. The first group (40% of the patients) went through an initial five-day training course for type1 and type 2 diabetic patients. The second group (32% of the patients) went to the intermediate three-day course, focusing on the benefits of tight control of diabetes, foot, eye, and skin care. The third group (28% of the patients) was scheduled for the advanced three-day follow-up courses, which will offer instructions in the specific topics of late complications and options for improving metabolic control.

All 100 persons went through the foot care screening program presented by NORTH WEST DIABETES FOOT CARE STUDY. They were also given educational literature about foot care.

Within the framework of the project all the patients' blood glucose was measured 2 or 3 times daily. On the whole 650 analyses were made. Seven patients with intensive insulin therapy regimens each got as a gift one box (50 units) of test- strips, for the better control of diabetes.

The accomplishment of this project promoted the quality of life among the diabetic population in Georgia. All the patients who participated in this project were made certain, that good control, mastering the methods of self-control and working out the system of self-management is the only way to avoid diabetes complications. Introduction of screening practice makes it possible to reveal the patients with " high risk" and avoid the cases of amputation, by providing them with the intensive care program. We very much appreciate the concern and understanding of our American donors, who made this project possible.

Budget report