Diabetes Programme Dehko

The Development Programme for the Prevention and Care of Diabetes (DEHKO 2000-2010) was Finland’s national diabetes programme. It aimed to prevent type 2 diabetes and diabetes-related complications to improve the quality of diabetes care and to support the self-care of people with diabetes.

Dehko constructed new action models for health care, which are now implemented throughout Finland.

Dehko had clear goals to be achieved by 2010 and 25 concrete recommendations for action.

Dehko was coordinated by the Finnish Diabetes Association, which was also responsible for the national sub-projects of Dehko. Dehko was the first national programme in the world also to include and implement the prevention of type 2 diabetes. Some other countries have also adopted the Finnish model.

Key actors:

• Finnish Diabetes Association
• Primary Health Care
• Specialized medical care
• Occupational health care
• National Public Health Institute

Coordination:

• Finnish Diabetes Association