Explore the latest research with experienced clinicians to understand the causes, types and treatments of diabetes.

8,185 enrolled on this course

Image of healthy food
  • Duration

    2 weeks
  • Weekly study

    3 hours
This course is part of the program Pathophysiology of Diabetes, which is one of the building blocks that leads to a degree in Diabetes Education. Find out more.

Diabetes is recognised as the world’s fastest growing chronic condition, with an estimated 422 million people living with it worldwide.

This online course draws on up-to-date research, and the real-life experiences of clinicians and people with diabetes, to address the question: “What is diabetes?”

You’ll explore the history, types, causes and treatment of diabetes and get a free taste of Deakin University’s postgraduate degree in Diabetes Education, which can be done entirely on FutureLearn.

Download video: standard or HD

Skip to 0 minutes and 6 seconds With an estimated 422 million people diagnosed with diabetes, it’s recognised as the world’s fastest-growing chronic condition. It’s been over a hundred years since the cause of diabetes was discovered. So what have we learned? What does the future look like for treating this prevalent condition? Hello, I’m Cath McNamara from Deakin University. And in this two-week course, we will explore the incidence and impact of diabetes, analyse the various types of diabetes, question the myths surrounding this condition, identify the symptoms and effects, and discover how individuals are diagnosed. Diabetes does not discriminate. And it can affect any person at any time, no matter age, gender, race, or fitness level.

Skip to 0 minutes and 52 seconds This course will benefit anyone seeking a better understanding of diabetes, and any health professional wanting to reduce the prevalence and modify the impact of this condition. See you soon.

What topics will you cover?

This course provided learners with an understanding of:

  • epidemiology of diabetes
  • diagnosing and classifying diabetes
  • different types of diabetes and their methods of treatment
  • the role of insulin in normal metabolism

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Identify the incidence and global distribution of diabetes
  • Develop an understanding of the differences between the different forms of diabetes
  • Identify the symptoms and effects of diabetes
  • Develop an understanding of the relationship between exercise, nutrition and blood glucose
  • Explain insulin function and insulin resistance

Who is the course for?

This course is targeted at:

  • people wanting to understand the causes, types and treatment of diabetes
  • health professionals wanting to reduce the prevalence and impact of diabetes.

Who will you learn with?

Cath is a credentialed diabetes nurse educator with a special interest in diabetes and pregnancy. She works clinically in this field which enhances her academic role and passion for educating students

Dr Virginia Hagger is a RN-CDE, who has worked in the diabetes field as a clinician, program manager and researcher. She is the Course Leader for the Grad Cert in Diabetes Education.

Dr Rhonda Brown is a Deakin University Clinical Associate Professor with extensive experience in community and mental health nursing.

Who developed the course?

Deakin University

Deakin University is one of Australia’s largest universities with more than 61,000 students and over 15,000 online.

  • Established

    1974
  • Location

    Melbourne, Australia
  • World ranking

    Top 280Source: QS World University Rankings 2021

Learning on FutureLearn

Your learning, your rules

  • Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
  • Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
  • Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

  • Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
  • Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
  • Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

  • As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
  • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
  • Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

Want to know more about learning on FutureLearn? Using FutureLearn

Advance your career with a degree

Since 2017 you have been able to take a degree on FutureLearn. This free course is a bit like a starter course for a degree — it should give you a flavour of the degree subject but can also be your first step towards a degree qualification.

If you enjoy this course you can apply to join the program it’s part of to start working towards a degree on FutureLearn.

Don’t worry, you can still take the course without doing a full degree!

Do the free course
Join and complete the program
Get academic credit for an online degree from Deakin University
This course is part of the program Pathophysiology of Diabetes, which is one of the building blocks that leads to a degree in Diabetes Education.

Do you know someone who'd love this course? Tell them about it...

You can use the hashtag #FLwhatisdiabetes to talk about this course on social media.