Education and management of diabetes at The University of Tokyo Hospital

Along with reduced physical activity, increased fat intake, and intensified psychological stresses associated with work and social life, the number of diabetic patients and diabetes-related complications has increased significantly in Japan. Our aim at The University of Tokyo Hospital is to provide comprehensive diabetes treatment, including the use a diabetes handbook with guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of diabetes consistent with evidence-based medicine. Diabetes specialists and certified diabetes educators work together to provide the best possible treatment. In addition, we have established a diabetic foot care service for outpatients, with the objective of preventing diabetes-related foot disease. The inpatients wards offer the most ideal diabetes treatments, including diet therapy, exercise therapy, guided self-monitoring of blood glucose, daily body weight measurement, and diabetes seminars. All these services provide guidelines that encourage patient self-management even after discharge from hospital. Management dietitians use food samples and a Food Exchange Table to brief patients about nutrition guidelines. Exercise therapy programs are developed according to the specific needs of each individual patient. We have also established a diabetes seminar series for the patients, to which physicians, nurses, dietitians, pharmacists, clinical laboratory technicians, and other professionals are invited to give talks on their respective areas of expertise. The aim of our ongoing efforts to implement diet and exercise therapies and improve the living habits of the patients is to achieve an ideal standard for diabetes education and management.