The CD-ROM has customization and five chapters that provide explanation of diabetes concepts. In the customization and introductory section, the user creates a character that will represent him/her in the story and meets Piper, a storybook character who needs help. To help Piper, the user has to learn the basic principles of diabetes care and undertake a series of challenges. Each chapter includes interactive exercises, quizzes, and practices of diabetes-related skills. As part of the learning experience, the user creates pages of a book after each topical chapter, based on what was learned. The book then can be printed out providing a personalized diabetes reference.
Chapter 1 focuses on blood glucose testing and basic diabetes information, including the steps involved in blood sugar testing, symptoms of hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia and corrective steps, and basic pathophysiology. Chapter 2 presents information on insulin, including site rotation, insulin injection preparation and administration, and insulin action profiles. Chapter 3 covers the different aspects of meal planning, including the diabetes food pyramid, information on carbohydrates, proteins, and fats, and methods of meal planning. Chapter 4 addresses heavy and light exercise and their effect on blood glucose levels, the importance of snacking when exercising to avoid hypoglycemia, and planned versus unplanned exercise. Chapter 5 covers the interrelationship among insulin, diet, exercise, and blood glucose levels. It contains a comprehensive review of the material covered in previous chapters, as well as interactive quizzes and practice exercises that reinforce the concepts learned in previous chapters.
The user-friendly features of the CD-ROM include a comprehensive dictionary of diabetes-related terms, flexible navigation to educational material in any chapter, ability to replay any part of the chapter’s material, and ability to stop the program and continue at a later point. Also, the program keeps track of the user’s activities though the CD-ROM, recording the number of correct and incorrect answers, which can be printed out for a later review.
