Three years' experience after national introduction of teaching programs for type II diabetic patients in Germany: how to train general practitioners.

Beginning in July 1991, office-based physicians in Germany were remunerated for providing a structured treatment and teaching program to non-insulin-treated type II diabetic patients. The treatment and teaching program is based upon the respective recommendations of the German Diabetes Association. This article describes the structure of the program and the courses for general practitioners and their nurses. The prospective studies proving the beneficial effects of the program are summarized.