A community approach to diabetes education in Australia - The Region 8 (Victoria) Diabetes Education and Control Program

The Australian Region 8 (Victoria) Diabetes Education and Control Program (DECP) is a community-based program which seeks to integrate ambulatory diabetes education programs into primary health care centres. The overall goal of the DECP is to reduce the human and economic costs of diabetes in a health region which covers 25% of the population of Victoria. Several implementation models are being tested and a rigorous evaluation has been built into the program. Diabetes education activities are targeted at 3 levels - the community, persons with diabetes, and health professionals. The DECP may provide of useful model for establishing diabetes and other chronic disease education and control programs, within community settings, in other parts of Australia and other countries.