Besides being a severe, chronic disease, the diabetes is usually associated with severe consequences and large expenditures. In many countries around the world it is the third largest cause of death after cardio-vascular and oncological diseases. 300 millions of people all over the world suffer from diabetes. Increase in disease rate significantly affects an overall level of population health. That’s why in 1992 the World Health Organization (WHO) defined diabetes mellitus as a non-infectious epidemic.        

There are currently 137 400 officially registered patients with diabetes in Azerbaijan. Like in the rest of the world, in Azerbaijan this figure is constantly growing.  

International Diabetes Federation, addressing all diabetes associations of the world, provides its recommendation to urgently acknowledging public education and training as a priority in prevention of diabetes mellitus. For this purpose Azerbaijan Diabetes Association applied to World Diabetes Foundation with the project on “Establishment of diabetes schools” in cities and regions of the republic. In accordance with the Foundation requirements, as well as on purpose of having organizational support from the side of Ministry of Health of Azerbaijan Republic, it was proposed the Public Health and Reforms Center (PHRC) to participate in implementation of this project. The project was approved by the Foundation in January, 2011.           

The aim of the project was to achieve the improvement of knowledge and skills on diabetes and prevention of its consequences among medical personnel, patients with diabetes and people at risk of diabetes by means of establishing a few health education schools in cities and regions of the country.    

Initial assessment of awareness about diabetes schools and the disease itself was conducted among patients with diabetes mellitus and at high-risk group in Lankaran and Sumgayit cities at the beginning of the project  

In the framework of the project on “Establishment of Diabetes School”, training for educators was carried out at PHRC. The training was held by Dr. Alexander Mayorov, member of World Diabetes Foundation, head of a department of Endocrinological Scientific Center of the Ministry of Health and Social Development of the Russian Federation.     

Within the project seven Diabetes Schools furnished with special equipment have been established in Baku, Sumgayit, Lankaran, Shaki and Shirvan. For the purpose of education 70 trainings were carried out for 105 physicians, 140 trainings – for 210 nurses, 770 trainings – for 1115 patients with diabetes mellitus and 770 trainings – for 1050 people from high-risk group. For the same purpose 3500 booklets, 4000 brochures, 300 posters, 2250 packages of training documents, 1100 informational packages for people at risk of diabetes and 2500 packages for diabetes patients were prepared and disseminated.    

Moreover, in the framework of the project, PHRC jointly with the Azerbaijan Diabetes Association developed training and educational materials on diabetes mellitus for primary healthcare providers, patients with diabetes mellitus (type 1), patients with diabetes mellitus (type 2, non-insulin-dependent), patients with diabetes mellitus (type 2, insulin-dependent), people at risk of diabetes; also booklets, banners and posters, e.g. “Diabetes mellitus control”, “Bread units table”, “Foot care rules for diabetics”, “Self-control diary”, “Hypoglycemia”, “Rules of insulin injections” and etc. were developed and published.

Free trainings for diabetics and population at high-risk group were held every month at the main diabetes school, organized at the Public Health and Reforms Center. Information about diabetes mellitus and its complications, applications of self-control means were provided at trainings.     

Final assessment of public awareness concerning functioning of diabetes school and disease itself was carried out on the closing stage of the project. The assessment was conducted among the patients with diabetes mellitus and people at risk of diabetes in Lankaran and Sumgayit cities. 

“Establishment of Diabetes Schools” project had certain significance in terms of implementation of “Strategic Plan of the Ministry of Health of Azerbaijan Republic 2011-2015” and “Action Plan on diabetes mellitus 2011-2015” of the Ministry of Health.