Project Title: Studying Diabetes Nursing and Diabetes Nursing Observation Training in EU. Accompanied by 3 domain expert teachers, 45 nursing students from the Private Anatolian Medical Vocational High Schools shall participate in the Project. A Diabetes Nurse (DN) works with diabetic patients together with their families, surroundings and society to asses and to provide diagnosis, diabetic nursing and training. DN follows and treats diabetic patients regularly and trains them and their families on how to prevent complications. Under the training provided by DN, diabetic patients are taught what diabetics is, the use of oral anti-diabetes medicine, insulin injections (injection rules, time, supply, sizes, injection area rotation etc.), glucometer supply and training, blood sugar home checking and training, providing diabetes identification card, foot examination, patient needs and foot nursing training, acute complications (hypoglycaemia, glycogen, ketoacidosis coma) preventive training and the objectives of diabetes treatment. DN works with other medical professionals from the internal medicine clinics (doctors, dieticians, psychologists etc.). As of the end of the year 2013, the number of diabetic patients in EU is 56 million, which constitutes 7 % of the population. In Turkey, there are approximately 10 million diabetics. It is a critical medical issue that ¼ of the population over the 40-year old face the risk of diabetes. Because of the fact that the number of the diabetic patients is constantly increasing, the need for medical professionals who treat and care the diabetic patients, and provide them and their families with training and information on diabetes and its complications is significantly growing. And DN, an indispensable part of the medical team has very important duties and responsibilities. According to the data of the Turkish Diabetes Foundation (TBF), there are 8 million diabetics in Turkey (the rate of the diabetics among men is 8.1 %, among women is 8.9 %. Each year this ratio is increasing on a 6.7 % -base.) The constant increase in the number of the diabetics forms an important public issue and creates a huge burden on the Turkish economy. There is a need for qualified DNs as a medical profession which provides services and nursing for diabetics such as treating diabetes and psychological problems, preventing complications etc. thereby improving the quality of the diabetics’ life and increasing their life span. For better and more efficient diabetes nursing, the need for nurses with education, skills and qualifications meeting the EU standards remains as a necessity. Through this Project, the participants shall: • observe the diabetic treatment and practices together with diabetes nursing, • increase their professional knowledge and skills in diabetes nursing, • compare and assess the quality and efficiency of their DN practices according to the EU standards, • transfer and share the different hardware, technics, methods and practices in this field through observation training, • experience cross-cultural interactions, meet and live different cultures, to study patient/human rights in EU. • improve their foreign language and training in diabetes nursing. Due to the above-mentioned objectives, the Participants need this project to improve their knowledge, skills, experience and qualifications on EU standard-based diabetic treatment and nursing. The overall expectations from the Project are as follows: • to train qualified personnel with EU-level knowledge, skills and qualifications in diabetes nursing, • to increase knowledge, skills and practices in the field of diabetes nursing, • to practice and live in environments with different languages, cultures and religions, • to transfer and share the knowledge, skills and experiences acquired in the host nation with their friends and colleagues upon their arrival back in Turkey, • to help the Turkish health sector and economy by providing qualified and efficient nursing and health services, • to increase cross-cultural communication, to improve language and social skills, • to increase the chance of employment through the certificates and improved language skills, • to produce CD/DVD, brochures bulletins, posters, books, etc. • to inform decision makers/authorities of the latest developments in diabetes nursing and to disseminate the related information. The Project is of 3 separate groups, the Netherlands, Germany and Italy. Each observation training group is 21 days’ duration. All groups consisting of 15 students and 1 teacher are planned to carry out their observation training from March 1th to 21st 2015, which constitutes an overall number of 45 students and 3 teachers. The Project is of one year’s duration starting on September 2nd, 2014 and ending on September 1st, 2015.