The Mexican Federation of Diabetes (FMD) highlights that having clear, accessible, and evidence-based information allows people to understand their diagnosis, actively participate in their treatment, and develop practical skills for daily decision-making.
Educator Training and Access Gap in Mexico At the national level, the Mexican Federation of Diabetes has trained approximately 2,000 Diabetes Educators throughout its educational work. While there are various training efforts aligned with the standards of the National Council of Diabetes Educators (CONED), there is no official consolidated figure on the total number of these professionals in the country. Comparing this reference with the estimate from the International Diabetes Federation, which calculated that around 13.6 million people were living with diabetes in Mexico in 2024, the magnitude of the challenge to ensure continuous and specialized educational support is understood.
Therapeutic Education and Autonomy in Condition Management From the FMD's perspective, the lack of appropriate education limits the tools available to people to face their condition. Gisela Ayala, executive director of the Mexican Federation of Diabetes, stated that diabetes education allows for the development of autonomy, security, and a more conscious relationship with health, elements necessary to sustain long-term self-care. Available educational programs have shown that continuous support improves the understanding of the disease, reduces uncertainty, and favors more effective communication between patients and healthcare professionals.
Evidence-Based Information as the Foundation for Self-Care Living with diabetes implies daily challenges that go beyond glucose control, making therapeutic education a central component to strengthen self-care, prevent complications, and improve quality of life. However, its availability is not homogeneous at all levels of care, which maintains persistent inequalities.
Multidisciplinary Care: A Comprehensive Approach The FMD emphasizes that the effective management of diabetes cannot rest on a single specialty. These variables, when not addressed, affect the continuity of treatment and the ability of individuals to sustain lifestyle changes. The experience accumulated by the FMD indicates that investing in education contributes to improving adherence, optimizing clinical communication, and reducing the individual and family burden associated with the disease.
Specialized Training and Institutional Strengthening In this context, the Mexican Federation of Diabetes calls for strengthening public policies, institutional programs, and strategic alliances that prioritize the training of Diabetes Educators and the real integration of multidisciplinary teams at different levels of care. As part of these actions, the FMD reminds of the availability of its Diploma in Diabetes Educator Training, aimed at health professionals, as a way to expand access to structured and quality educational support in Mexico, placing the person at the center of their health care.
A comprehensive approach requires the coordinated participation of doctors, nutritionists, psychologists, and nursing staff capable of addressing the clinical, emotional, and social dimensions that directly influence therapeutic adherence. In this sense, Mónica Hurtado, Academic Manager of the FMD, explained that pharmacological treatment alone is insufficient if it is not integrated with structured education, constant support, and interdisciplinary work, components that allow for a more complete management of the condition.
Contextual Barriers and Continuous Follow-up Close follow-up from multidisciplinary teams facilitates the identification of emotional, cultural, and contextual barriers that influence the daily management of diabetes.
