EMPOWERING COMMUNITY HEALTH CADRES AS PROMOTERS OF EMERGENCY PREVENTION AND NEUROPATHY SCREENING IN DIABETES MELLITUS CASE

Abstract

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) remains a growing global health concern, particularly due to its acute and chronic complications, including hyperglycemic crisis, hypoglycemic episodes, and diabetic neuropathy. Strengthening the role of community health cadres is an essential strategy to improve early detection and community-based prevention. Object: This community engagement program aimed to empower 40 health cadres in Pacar Kembang Urban Village through structured training, hands-on workshops, and mentoring sessions. Method: The intervention consisted of education on DM emergencies, practical skills training for early detection of hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia, and neuropathy screening techniques. Evaluation using pre–post assessment and observation checklists demonstrated a significant improvement in cadres’ competencies, including recognition of emergency signs and accurate performance of neuropathy screening using sensory examination tools. Mentoring sessions reinforced their practical skills, increasing confidence and readiness in community-level implementation. Results: The program highlights the effectiveness of cadre empowerment as a scalable approach to enhance early detection, reduce delayed treatment, and strengthen community-based diabetes care Conclusion: This program provides evidence that cadre empowerment using structured cognitive–psychomotor training can serve as a scalable model for strengthening primary-level diabetes complication prevention