<p>Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder that brings great changes in every individual's way of living. The goal in diabetes treatment is that the individual will be able to live a normal life, with normal length. To achieve this there is need to avoid complications, both acute and long-term. To be able to do this this the patient need knowledge about the illness and how to adjust pharmacological treatment to diet and exercise. In this, patient education is an important part. The purpose of this literature review was to describe nurse's educational role in preventing long-term complications in lower extremity, diabetic patients. As a theoretical framework, a socioculture perspective of learning has been used. The result showed the importance of adjusting the level of educational content, the tools used in the education and the way the nurse educate. It also showed the importance of creating a good atmosphere and an interaction between nurse and patient. A good interaction leads to good education, where both parties are experts where the only thing differing is the branch of expertise. Theese aspects of education is essential in preventing long-term complications in lower extremity in diabetic patients.</p>

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder that brings great changes in every individual's way of living. The goal in diabetes treatment is that the individual will be able to live a normal life, with normal length. To achieve this there is need to avoid complications, both acute and long-term. To be able to do this this the patient need knowledge about the illness and how to adjust pharmacological treatment to diet and exercise. In this, patient education is an important part. The purpose of this literature review was to describe nurse's educational role in preventing long-term complications in lower extremity, diabetic patients. As a theoretical framework, a socioculture perspective of learning has been used. The result showed the importance of adjusting the level of educational content, the tools used in the education and the way the nurse educate. It also showed the importance of creating a good atmosphere and an interaction between nurse and patient. A good interaction leads to good education, where both parties are experts where the only thing differing is the branch of expertise. Theese aspects of education is essential in preventing long-term complications in lower extremity in diabetic patients.