Diabetes including Blood Glucose Monitoring and Administration of Insulin

To provide underpinning knowledge associated with best practice for providing safe and effective care for people with diabetes, including a simulated practical experience in a controlled environment to assist the development of competent skills for testing blood glucose levels and administering insulin. To promote the safety and well-being of all patients who have, or who are at risk of having diabetes.

DESCRIPTION

By the end of the course, candidates will be able to:

• Discuss legal and professional responsibilities associated with performing diabetes care with local and national guidance
• Follow procedures for gaining consent and correct documentation
• Outline the physiology of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes
• Identify and explain the signs and symptoms of diabetes
• Explain the risk factors for diabetes and discuss diagnosis criteria
• Understand the need to manage health and safety risk
• Describe how to maintain the health of a person with diabetes
• Identify the range of available equipment and medication
• Demonstrate how to monitor blood sugar levels and give insulin
• Discuss how to identify and manage episodes of hypoglycaemia and hyperglycaemia
• Describe long term conditions associated with diabetes

Practitioners will be assessed by –

• Ability to answer questions during course
• Discussion following feedback from activities
• Undertaking simulated diabetes care procedures
• Completing a post course knowledge assessment

Course content

• Legal and professional considerations and responsibilities
• Consent for care and treatment
• Setting the scene – introduction
• Statistics
• Busting the myths
• Diabetes explained
• Type 1 Diabetes
• Type 2 Diabetes
• Symptoms of diabetes
• Making a diagnosis
  • HbA1c
  • Fasting Plasma Glucose
  • Oral Glucose Tolerance Test
• Diet and carbohydrate counting
• Physical activity
• Blood pressure
• Blood Glucose Monitoring
  • Equipment
  • Hand cleansing
  • Performing the test
  • Recommended levels
• Aims of diabetes treatment
• Drug treatment
• Use of insulin
  • Rationale
  • Types and brand examples
  • Injecting devices + pumps
  • Storage
  • Injection sites
  • Administering insulin injections
• Acute complications
  • Hypoglycaemia + Management
  • Hyperglycaemia + Management
• Chronic Complications
  • Retinopathy
  • Foot problems
  • Cardiovascular disease
  • Kidney disease
  • Neuropathy
• Practical Workshop
  • Capillary blood glucose testing
  • Giving insulin injections
• Principles of Nursing Practice
• Knowledge assessment