3 Steps to “DeFeet” Amputations – FREE Webinar | July 19th, 11:30 am PST
3 Steps to Save Feet; Assess, Screen, and Report
All health care professionals are invited to join us to learn strategies to protect the lower extremities!
Airs live on July 19th at 11:30 am PST (45 to 60 minutes)
Coach Beverly will walk participants through the 3 Step Process to Save Feet; Assess, Screen and Report. She will provide simple and clear instructions on how to assess and inspect feet, along with risk assessment and action steps. We will share free teaching tools, strategies, and documentation forms adapted from the Lower Extremity Prevention Program (LEAP) that you can immediately implement in your practice setting.
Topics include:
- Effective foot assessment made easy
- How to use a monofilament to assess sensation
- Using a screening form to report findings
We are excited to share this life-saving information with our community of diabetes advocates.
CEs: 1.0 CEs for $19 or No CEs for FREE
Can’t join us live?
Don’t worry, we will send you a link to the recorded version.
Lift the Sheets and Look at the Feets
My passion for lower extremity advocacy began with my work at Stanford Hospital over 25 years ago. A kind-hearted man, JR, was admitted to the vascular unit with an infected ulcer and osteomyelitis. Despite days of antibiotic therapy and wound care, a partial foot amputation was required. He was devastated by this loss and so was I.
Here is the real tragedy. Based on his story, I am sure this amputation could have been prevented.
Diagnosed with diabetes a year earlier, JR took his diabetes medications as instructed but wasn’t prescribed a glucose meter to monitor his sugar levels (which were often in the 300s based on his A1C of 10.3%). Weeks before his hospital admission, a foot callus was bothering him. To relieve the discomfort, he decided to trim off the dead skin with a razor blade, but he went too deep. His well-intended intervention opened up a portal of entry for sugar-loving bacteria and within a week, he noticed his socks were wet with bloody drainage.
If JR had known that trimming his callus with a razor blade was dangerous or that his blood sugars were elevated, he could have taken preventive action.
Unfortunately, the first amputation predicts future amputations. Amputations are also associated with decreased life expectancy and impact on quality of life, especially for under-resourced individuals.
So, let’s “Lift the Sheet and Look at the Feets.”
Let’s unveil the barriers to amputation prevention, especially for Black Americans, who have 3-4 times the risk of amputation compared to White Americans. Let’s set up our clinics and hospitals to not only treat foot problems but determine the cause and take action for prevention. Together, we can make a difference.
FREE Toolkit of Handouts and Resources
3 Steps to Save Feet – Assess, Screen, Report Handout. This handout walks health care professionals through the steps involved in a 10-minute foot assessment and monofilament screening. Also includes a Screening Form to document and report findings.
Foot Care Teaching Sheet – Steps to Healthy Feet. This handout covers the important elements of foot care for people living with diabetes with simple and straightforward language.
Foot Care Teaching Sheet in Spanish– Pasos Para Tener Pies Sanos. This handout covers the important elements of foot care for people living with diabetes with simple and straightforward language.
FREE Webinar Airs July 19th! Coach Beverly will walk participants through the 3 Step Process to Save Feet; Assess, Screen and Report.
Coach Beverly Thomassian, RN, MPH, BC-ADM, CDCES
Author, Nurse, Educator, Clinician and Innovator, Beverly has specialized in diabetes management for over twenty years. As president and founder of Diabetes Educational Services, Beverly is dedicated to optimizing diabetes care and improving the lives of those with diabetes.
NEW! Order Monofilament (5.07) for Diabetes Foot Screening 20-Pack
People with diabetes are at increased risk of foot complications. By using a 5.07 monofilament (delivers 10gms of linear pressure) to assess for loss of sensation, diabetes health care professionals can immediately identify high-risk feet and take steps to protect lower extremities. Basic foot care education and intervention can reduce the risk of amputation by over 50 percent.
We are excited to provide these single-use 5.07 monofilaments in packs of 20.
We have included instructions on how to assess and inspect feet, along with risk assessment and action steps. We enhanced the teaching tools and forms from the Lower Extremity Prevention Program (LEAP) and are excited to share them with our community of diabetes advocates.
Want to learn more about Diabetes Care? Join us for our
Virtual DiabetesEd Specialist Conference
30+ CEs
Airs October 12-14th, 2022
Whether you are new to diabetes or a seasoned expert, you’ll benefit from this virtual conference with the latest research plus critical content that you can immediately apply to your clinical practice.
Download Course Flyer | Download Schedule
If you are seeking a state-of-the-art review of current diabetes care, this course is for you. Our team has been fine-tuning this course for over fifteen years, and we know what you need. This program can also be a great addition to your CDCES or BC-ADM exam study plan.
Join us LIVE for this Virtual Course and enjoy a sense of community!
Team of expert faculty includes:
- Diana Isaacs, PharmD, BCPS, BC-ADM, BCACP, CDCES – Educator of the Year, 2020
- Coach Beverly Thomassian, RN, MPH, CDCES, BC-ADM
- Ashley LaBrier, MS, RD, CDCES, Diabetes Program Coordinator
Two Registration Options
Virtual DiabetesEd Specialist Conference Deluxe | 30+ CEs
Deluxe Option for $499: Virtual Program includes:
- Q & A Session with the instructor after each webinar.
- LIVE Presentations by our team of experts.
- State of the art review of current diabetes care and technology.
- Resources for each session.
- Access to free podcasts and video recordings within a week of each live session for one year.
Deluxe Version includes Syllabus, Standards and Swag*:
- Diabetes Educator Course 2022 Syllabus Hard Copy – over 100 pages -This spiral-bound workbook contains the printed version of all of the instructor’s slides.
- ADA 2022 Standards of Care Book -The ADA Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes is a key resource for healthcare professionals involved in diabetes care, education, and support.
- DiabetesEd Services highlighters, Medication PocketCard, Tote Bag and Pen
Virtual DiabetesEd Specialist Conference Basic | 30+ CEs
Basic Option for $399: Virtual Program includes:
- Q & A Session with the instructor after each webinar.
- LIVE Presentations by our team of experts.
- State of the art review of current diabetes care and technology.
- Resources for each session.
- Access to free podcasts and video recordings within a week of each live session for one year.
Don’t worry if you can’t make it live. Your registration guarantees access to the recorded version in the Online University.
All hours earned count toward your CDCES Accreditation Information
Sign up for Diabetes Blog Bytes – we post one daily Blog Byte from Monday to Friday. And of course, Tuesday is our Question of the Week. It’s Informative and FREE! Sign up below!
The use of DES products does not guarantee the successful passage of the CDCES exam. CBDCE does not endorse any preparatory or review materials for the CDCES exam, except for those published by CBDCE.
How Do Annual Wellness Visits Decrease Amputation Rates over 30%?
As a Diabetes Specialist at a local Native Health Services Clinic, I assess a lot of feet every day. I believe this simple act of looking, touching, questioning, caring, and referring has saved many lower extremities.
Last month, a client arrived who was excited to report that they were able to walk for over an hour without getting short of breath. We celebrated this accomplishment and then I asked them to take off his shoes, knowing this person had already lost all of the toes on their left foot due to diabetes. The client wasn’t wearing custom shoes to accommodate this foot, just regular tennis shoes.
When the socks came off, I discovered an angry-looking ulcer that the person wasn’t too concerned about, saying, “it’s not really bothering me.” We sent this client to the emergency department, and they were immediately started on antibiotics to stop this very dangerous infection.
That’s just one example of how the simple act of assessing feet at during a wellness visit can make a big difference in outcomes.
Lowering Amputation Rates Through Annual Wellness Visit
A study conducted by researchers at the University of Virginia School of Medicine reviewed data on the impact of Wellness Visits on amputation rates in the “Diabetes Belt”.
The “Diabetes Belt,” refers to 644 counties in the southeastern and Appalachian regions of the U.S. with higher rates of diabetes including the state of Mississippi as well as portions of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia.
People living in the Diabetes Belt had 27% greater odds of requiring a lower-extremity amputation compared to residents of counties surrounding the belt.
A simple intervention with big rewards:
This ten-year study at the University of Virginia found that people with diabetes who participated in a free Annual Wellness Visit covered by Medicare were 36% less likely to need an amputation compared to those who did not attend an Annual Wellness Visit regardless of where they lived.
“Our results confirmed our hypothesis that Annual Wellness Visits are associated with a reduced risk of major lower-extremity amputations, highlighting the importance of connecting patients to preventive care services,” said Jennifer Lobo, PhD, a researcher in UVA’s Department of Public Health Sciences.
Racial Disparities associated with increased amputation risk
The research also revealed significantly higher rates of diabetes-related amputations among Black participants compared with non-Hispanic White participants, both inside and outside the Diabetes Belt.
Based on these research results, more resources and changes in our health care system are needed to decrease amputation rates in the Diabetes Belt. As health care providers, we can take an active role in reaching out to Black community members to determine systemic barriers. Then, through community collaboration, we can start building bridges to improve inclusivity and access to healthcare.
To learn more about addressing racial disparities to reduce amputation, click here and click here.
Value of Preventive Foot Care
The researchers concluded that people with diabetes who participated in their Annual Medicare Wellness Visit may have had their foot complications diagnosed sooner, helping prevent amputations. Also, given the effectiveness of wellness visits to prevent future problems, the authors suggest incentivizing people with Medicare to use their annual wellness visits to evaluate lower extremities and provide education and foot care training.
Want to learn more about this question?
Join us for our new FREE Webinar
3 Steps to Save Feet; Assess, Screen, and Report
Airs live July 19th at 11:30 am PST (45 to 60 minutes)
All health care professionals are invited to join us to learn strategies to protect lower extremities during this FREE Webinar.
Coach Beverly will walk participants through the 3 Step Process to Save Feet; Assess, Screen and Report. She will provide simple and clear instructions on how to assess and inspect feet, along with risk assessment and action steps. We will share free teaching tools, strategies, and documentation forms adapted from the Lower Extremity Prevention Program (LEAP) that you can immediately implement in your practice setting.
CEs: 1.0 CEs for $19 or No CEs for FREE
Topics include:
- Effective foot assessment made easy
- How to use a monofilament to assess sensation
- Using screening form to report findings
Can’t join us live?
Don’t worry, we will send you a link to the recorded version.
FREE Handouts and Resources
3 Steps to Save Feet – Assess, Screen, Report Handout. This handout walks health care professionals through the steps involved in a 10-minute foot assessment and monofilament screening. Also includes a Screening Form to document and report findings.
Foot Care Teaching Sheet: This handout covers the important elements of foot care for people living with diabetes with simple and straightforward language.
Coach Beverly Thomassian, RN, MPH, BC-ADM, CDCES
Author, Nurse, Educator, Clinician and Innovator, Beverly has specialized in diabetes management for over twenty years. As president and founder of Diabetes Educational Services, Beverly is dedicated to optimizing diabetes care and improving the lives of those with diabetes.
NEW! Order Monofilament (5.07) for Diabetes Foot Screening 20-Pack
People with diabetes are at increased risk of foot complications. By using a 5.07 monofilament (delivers 10gms of linear pressure) to assess for loss of sensation, diabetes health care professionals can immediately identify high-risk feet and take steps to protect lower extremities. Basic foot care education and intervention can reduce the risk of amputation by over 50 percent.
We are excited to provide these single-use 5.07 monofilaments in packs of 20.
We have included instructions on how to assess and inspect feet, along with risk assessment and action steps. We enhanced the teaching tools and forms from the Lower Extremity Prevention Program (LEAP) and are excited to share them with our community of diabetes advocates.
Sign up for Diabetes Blog Bytes – we post one daily Blog Byte from Monday to Friday. And of course, Tuesday is our Question of the Week. It’s Informative and FREE! Sign up below!
The use of DES products does not guarantee the successful passage of the CDCES exam. CBDCE does not endorse any preparatory or review materials for the CDCES exam, except for those published by CBDCE.
Creating More Inclusive Practices | LGBTQ+ Resources for Diabetes Specialists
June is Pride Month and in honor of our LGBTQ+ community, we want to share some helpful resources for Diabetes Specialists to create more inclusive practices.
Whether we provide services in the hospital, clinic, or other outpatient settings, we can take steps to help the people we work with feel welcome.
By paying careful attention to each person’s experience from the moment they walk in the door until we say goodbye, we can find ways to create a more inclusive environment. This awareness of the details, such as inclusive gender questions on intake forms or gender-neutral signage on the bathrooms, are great first steps to show your care and respect for those you work with.
“Members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) community have unique health disparities and worse health outcomes than their heterosexual counterparts, which has clinical relevance in the delivery of diabetes care and education. Diabetes care and education specialists are in a pivotal position to help this medically-underserved and vulnerable population get the best possible care.” – ADCES
List of Resources
ADCES Inclusive Care for LGBTQ+ People with Diabetes Handout – this handout provides definitions, terms to avoid, and a cultural competency checklist to help you move towards improving inclusivity within your practice.
Diabetes Prevention and Management for LGBTQ+ People Handout – this handout includes research of diabetes within the LGBTQ community, along with clinical considerations, programs, and resources for diabetes educators to use within their practice.
Policies on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender & Queer (LGBTQ+) issues – this resource by the American Medical Association lists all the current healthcare policies in place for the LGBTQ community.
Helio’s LGBTQ+ Health Updates Resource Center – this is a “collection of news articles and features that provide the latest information on the unique health needs of individuals in the LGBTQ+ community.”
Online Therapy Guide for LGBTQ+ Youth – this resource uncovers common mental health problems and causes in LGBTQ+ youth and gives pointers on finding the right online therapist.
Are we missing important information and resources? Send us your favorites to [email protected].
Inclusive Diabetes Care for LGBTQ Community
For more information, read our Expert Interview with Theresa Garnero, APRN, BC-ADM, MSN, CDE President of Sweet People Club, and writer of the article for on “Providing Culturally Sensitive Care for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) community” in Diabetes Spectrum.
Sign up for Diabetes Blog Bytes – we post one daily Blog Byte from Monday to Friday. And of course, Tuesday is our Question of the Week. It’s Informative and FREE! Sign up below!
[yikes-mailchimp form=”1″]Accreditation: Diabetes Education Services is an approved provider by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider 12640, and Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR), Provider DI002. Since these programs are approved by the CDR it satisfies the CE requirements for the CDCES regardless of your profession.*
The use of DES products does not guarantee the successful passage of the CDCES exam. CBDCE does not endorse any preparatory or review materials for the CDCES exam, except for those published by CBDCE.
![](/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/insta-png-v5.png")
