Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus is becoming a health problem that presents significant physical, emotional, and financial strain on the health care system. T2DM has become an epidemic with high morbidity and mortality rates. Uncontrolled T2DM is the number one cause of blindness, kidney failure, cardiac problems, and lower extremity amputations. In the United States, the number of patients affected by T2DM is on the rise causing concern over increased financial cost and lost productivity. Nevada is in close comparison with the nation having 7.9% of adults affected compared with 8.3% of adults nationally having T2DM. With the rising problem healthcare providers are in a vital position to increase patient awareness, to develop patient involvement and to improve health care outcomes through education. Ineffective patient education contributes to, and may increase complications from, uncontrolled T2DM. While employed at a rural clinic in Nevada, this project director (PD) recognized a need for T2DM education.
