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Rehabilitation for persons with metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes

This rehabilitation is intended for adults aged 18 or over who have been diagnosed with metabolic syndrome (MetS) and type 2 diabetes. The rehabilitation course is offered partially on the service provider’s premises and partially online as remote rehabilitation. Rehabilitation is primarily given in a group setting.

The rehabilitation course is free of charge.

Who is the rehabilitation course for?

This rehabilitation course is suited for adults aged 18 or over

  • who have been diagnosed with metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes
  • who are overweight (a BMI over 30) and who have not been able to lose weight despite treatment
  • who are on medication for diabetes
  • who are on medication for dyslipidaemia or whose fat levels are high
  • who want to participate in a rehabilitation course that is offered partially in person and partially online.

Rehabilitation is offered for the following target groups:

  • persons under 68
  • persons over 68.

Aim of rehabilitation

This rehabilitation course will help you adapt to the changes and new reality brought on by your condition. The aim of rehabilitation is to

  • secure and improve your capacity for work and study and your functional capacity
  • support the self-treatment of your condition
  • improve your life management skills and help you find ways to continue to live a full and independent life to the best extent possible despite your condition.

The rehabilitation course also offers you the opportunity to get support from your peers and share your experiences with others.

How rehabilitation works

The rehabilitation course is offered partially on the service provider’s premises and partially online as remote rehabilitation.

The rehabilitation needs and goals of each participant are taken into account.

The service provider will contact you before and after the rehabilitation course.

The rehabilitation course is offered separately in Finnish and Swedish. The course is offered in Finnish to Sámi-speaking clients. They can be assigned an interpreter if necessary.

The experts involved in your rehabilitation

The following experts will plan and manage your rehabilitation programme:

  • a specialist in internal medicine or endocrinology or some other specialist with special competence in the treatment of diabetes
  • a diabetes nurse
  • a nutritional therapist
  • a physiotherapist or exercise instructor.

Other rehabilitation professionals may also contribute to your rehabilitation depending on your individual needs.

How to apply

If you want to apply for rehabilitation for persons with metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes, you need a medical statement B (B-lausunto) or a medical statement BC (BC-lausunto) issued by a doctor, or some other statement on your health, such as a copy of your medical history (sairauskertomus). The medical statement or health statement must be dated within the past year.

The medical statement B, medical statement BC or health statement must state what condition you have that qualifies you for rehabilitation, how well you can function, what kind of rehabilitation is recommended for you and why.

After you get your medical statement B, medical statement BC or health statement, do as follows:

  1. Complete the application form for discretionary rehabilitation KU 132 (PDF, in Finnish).
    • Save the blank form to your device. Do not fill in the form directly in the browser because some of the information may not be saved that way.
    • Open the form with Adobe Reader and fill it in.
    • Tell us in the application which service provider’s rehabilitation you want to participate in. You can use Kela’s rehabilitation course search (in Finnish and Swedish only) to look up service providers. Type mbo (metabolic syndrome) in the search field.
    • Save the completed application form on your device. Note that the application must be in PDF format.
  2. Send the application in the OmaKela e-service (available in Finnish and Swedish).
    • Log in to OmaKela and select Tee hakemus tai ilmoita muutoksista (Submit an application or report changes).
    • First select Sairastaminen ja kuntoutus (Sickness and rehabilitation). Then select Kuntoutus (Rehabilitation). Finally, select Harkinnanvarainen kuntoutus (Discretionary rehabilitation).
    • If you send your application to Kela in OmaKela, you do not need to sign it.
  3. If you have supporting documents, send them via OmaKela after you have submitted your application. If they are paper documents, you can photograph them.
    • Send us a copy of your medical statement B, medical statement BC or the other statement on your health your doctor has issued to you as a supporting document with your application.
  4. Visit OmaKela to see if Kela has made a decision on your application. We will also send the decision notice to the rehabilitation service provider. This tells the service provider that Kela will pay for your rehabilitation, and the service provider will reserve a place for you on the rehabilitation course.

If you cannot use OmaKela, mail your application to Kela. Save the form to your device and fill it in after saving it. Print out the completed form and send it and any supporting documents to Kela, PL 10, 00056 KELA.

Apply for rehabilitation

Submit your application and supporting documents online.

Log in to the OmaKela e-service (available in Finnish and Swedish)

Let us know if you cannot attend rehabilitation

Remember to tell Kela immediately if you cannot participate in the rehabilitation course. Let us know that you have to cancel by sending a message to us in the OmaKela e-service or by calling our customer service number for rehabilitation clients.

We recommend that you also contact the service provider to let them know you have to cancel.

Check if you can get rehabilitation allowance and travel cost reimbursements

Kela pays rehabilitation allowance to give you financial security during rehabilitation. Kela may also reimburse you for rehabilitation-related travel costs.

Do you still have questions?

Call Kela’s customer service.
020 634 2650
020 634 2650
Last modified 5/10/2026