Pyramids, Paradigms, and Possibilities
2006; American Diabetes Association; Volume: 19; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês
10.2337/diaspect.19.1.58
ISSN1944-7353
Autores Tópico(s)Diabetes, Cardiovascular Risks, and Lipoproteins
ResumoI would like to take you on a journey through the pyramids: some historic, some familiar, some controversial, and some conceptual. I will share with you five pyramids of diabetes education: points that I have found important in my own journey as a diabetes educator. I will aim to challenge you a bit to rethink a few of the traditional diabetes education paradigms and envision some new possibilities. Hopefully, you will find a few hidden treasures in these pyramids. To begin our journey, we will need to go back in time. The Mayan Pyramids of Mexico? Or perhaps to the Egypt, where the first early accounts of diabetes were written in the Ebers papyrus? No, that is too far back. Instead, we will jump into Boston, where we have our own “pyramid”: our landmark Citgo sign with its red triangular logo beaming high above Kenmore Square and Fenway Park, home to our beloved Red Sox. It also marks the site of a less well-known address, 81 Bay State Road, which served as both home and office for Dr. Elliott P. Joslin for 50 years. Joslin lived for 92 years and had worldwide influence. As noted in his obituary, he was best known for “his inauguration of diabetes education for the diabetic patient.”1 He was a prolific writer. Between 1916 and 1959, he published 10 editions of a textbook for physicians, as well as 10 editions of his Diabetic Manual for “the mutual use of doctor and patient.”2 I continue to be fascinated to read his writings and be reminded of his commitment to education, both of patients and professionals. Many of his messages were ahead of his time. It is also interesting to note at this time of celebrating outstanding educators, researchers, and clinicians that Joslin was the …
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