[Home care for the diabetic within the limits of project--object: pilot project integrated into the health education of the diabetic. Veneto Region].

Twenty one district-nurses working in 13 districts were handed a questionnaire (one questionnaire for each patient), to collect data on nursing interventions and main problems of the 382 diabetic patients cared for. The diabetic patients are a very demanding population with a mean age of 78 years; 314 (82%) have a comorbidity, 272 (71%) severe limits on their physical functioning and 233 (61%) the diabetic foot; 183 patients (47%) are not capable of taking autonomous decisions. The nursing interventions for these patients are both technical (drawing blood samples, diagnostic exams) and educational on how to manage and monitor self-administration of insulin (31 patients, 10%), on self monitoring techniques (116 patients, 30%), on alimentation in general and change in food habits (289 patients, 94.1%). The role of the nurse in promoting patients' independence and in preventing complications is highlighted.