Socorro Hernández and Jaime Matas Calafat belong to a very special group.Not only are two of the 11,000 type II diabetics that exist in the region.They have also participated in two workshops for active patients who, since 2014, have been organizing the health service of the Principality of Asturias (SESPA) within the known as an expert patient program and that has been designed thinking about chronic patients.
It is based on a program developed by Stanford University 24 years ago and that grants the maximum prominence to the sick."Leaders-patients" are formed that must guide work groups to improve disease monitoring that, on many occasions, has as many efficiency as pharmacological treatments.
Since May 2014, a total of thirteen workshops on different chronic diseases have been given in the health area III.Diabetes has been treated in three specific meetings with the participation of 81 people.They may seem small figures, but it cannot be forgotten that there is a necessary time for the formation of the leaders, in addition to the selection of the patients and the time of the workshop itself.
The phrases
Socorro Hernández
«The workshop is fantastic.It helps you get out of complicated situations that you find on a day -to -day basis »
Jaime Matas Calafat
«Participating in the workshop has increased my quality of life as a diabetic patient»
The formation of chronic patients has also benefited from the workshops 'taking control of their health' and that have been organized with the collaboration of the municipalities of Aviles, Pravia, walls of Nalón and Cudillero.These are leading both chronic patients and caregivers and 30% of patients or caregivers are related to diabetes.
Both Socorro Hernández, twelve years and diabetic, and Jaime Matas, diagnosed fifteen, were invited to participate in the formation of chronic patients.Both do not hide their satisfaction for the contents, because of the possibility of being able to talk about the problems that address every day with patients like them.
«They explained to us what the disease is and how to carry it.They told me everything they should have told me when they diagnosed me diabetes, ”says Jaime Matas.
«It was a fantastic experience.You talk to other diabetics and learn small tricks to get out of problems that you can find daily.It is said that diabetes is a disease due to sugar, but in reality there are many more things.For example, it also affects emotions.It was a great help, ”says Socorro Hernández.
Learning
The words of both do not imply any criticism of Sespa professionals.Both Socorro Hernández and Jaime Matas praise the monitoring they do in primary care, both in the nursing consultation and in the doctor.«In a consultation all the contents of the workshop are not addressed.We assimilate that it is a chronic, progressive, without cure disease and we learn many things, such as reading food labels.We even exchanged cooking recipes! ”Says Socorro Hernández.
Jaime Matas does not hesitate to affirm that the workshop has allowed him to "have more quality of life", reinforcing some of his healthy behaviors, such as his constant physical exercise, in addition to improving attention to his body.
He also discovered that one of his neighbors was diabetic and both highlight the good atmosphere and friendship that were established among the participants who sought the same goal: to improve their day to day.
Socorro Hernández does not hesitate to advise all patients who take this opportunity if they are offered.He even recognizes that, if he had option, he would repeat."The sessions were always lengthened more than they should last," says Socorro Hernández.
