Why is it important that people with diabetes pay special attention to taking care of their feet?
Click Here to Test your Knowledge
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:
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.
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.
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.
This course will transform your test anxiety into calm self-confidence and test taking readiness.
Read More: Preparing for CDCES Exam Webinar TopicsPreparing for the CDCES Exam |
FREE Webinar
Read More: What is a CDCES? First awarded in 1986, as Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE) credential and in 2020 with a new name: Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) to more accurately reflect the specialty. CDCES has become a standard of excellence for the delivery of quality diabetes education. Those who hold this certification are known to possess comprehensive knowledge of and experience in diabetes prevention, management, and prediabetes. “Becoming a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) is one of the best professional and personal decisions I have ever made.” – Coach Beverly Thomassian, RN, MPH, CDCES, BC-ADM
Read More: 3 Reasons to Become a CDCES “The best part of becoming a CDCES is working with my colleagues and people living with diabetes. As diabetes educators, we hear compelling and beautiful life stories. I am astounded by the barriers they face and inspired by their adaptability, problem-solving skills, and resilience.” Reason 1: CDCES is a widely recognized certification by employers and health care professionals throughout the U.S. This credential demonstrates a specialized and in-depth knowledge in the prevention and treatment of individuals living with pre-diabetes and diabetes. Reason 2: Currently, 10% of people in the U.S. have diabetes and another 35% have pre-diabetes which means 45% of Americans are running around with elevated blood glucose levels. Given this epidemic, there will be plenty of future job opportunities. Reason 3: Having my CDCES along with my nursing degree, has opened many doors of opportunity; from working as an inpatient Diabetes Nurse Specialist in a hospital to working as a Manager of Diabetes Education in the outpatient setting to starting my own consulting company.
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:
Deluxe Option for $499: Virtual Program includes:
Deluxe Version includes Syllabus, Standards and Swag*:
Basic Option for $399: Virtual Program includes:
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.
July 2022 eNews | 3 Steps to”DeFeet” Amputations in People with Diabetes
It’s officially summer. What better season to celebrate feet and lower extremities!
My passion for lower extremity advocacy began with my work at Stanford Hospital over 25 years ago. A kind-hearted man was admitted to the vascular unit with an infected foot 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. I am sure this amputation could have been prevented with some simple foot care education.
For this newsletter issue, we have put together a toolkit full of foot care resources that we are excited to share with you, including a FREE Webinar on 3 Steps to Save Feet.
Amputation rates are on the rise. We hope by sharing these tools and information, we reverse this trend and save limbs.
The great thing about foot care education is that all health care professionals can engage in sharing the prevention strategies outlined in our free handouts. Just think of all the unnecessary suffering we can prevent by looking at feet, providing education, and taking action on any unusual foot findings.
I think our foot care motto from Stanford Hospital says it best, “Lift the Sheets and Look at the Feets”. Let’s just start with this first step.
We are also overjoyed to announce that we are providing two Flower Scholarships that cover the cost of our Fall Virtual DiabetesEd Course. Applications are now being accepted.
Thank you in advance for your actions and advocacy on behalf of people living with diabetes.
Beverly, Bryanna, Robert, and Amanda
Featured Articles
Upcoming FREE Webinars
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:
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.
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.
For last week’s practice question, we quizzed test takers on Mounjaro, a new medication. 82% of respondents chose the best answer. We want to share this important information, so you can pass it on to people living with diabetes and your colleagues, plus prepare for exam success!
Before we start though, if you don’t want any spoilers and haven’t tried the question yet, you can answer it below: Answer Question
Question: The FDA recently approved the new ‘twincretin” dual incretin hormone therapy called Tirzepatide (Mounjaro). The provider wants to start a person with type 2 diabetes on this new medication and asks for your consultation. The person’s current medications for type 2 diabetes include metformin, empagliflozin (Jardiance), semaglutide (Ozempic), and Pravachol. What is the best response to the provider?
Answer Choices:
As shown above, the most common choice was option 2, the second most common answer was option 4, then option 1, and finally 3.
Answer 1 is incorrect. 6.53% chose this answer, “Inform provider that Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) is contraindicated in people taking SGLT-2 Inhibitors.” According to the Package Insert, Tirzepatide can be used in combination with SGLT-2 Inhibitors and other approved diabetes medications. However, since Tirzepatide is a combination of GLP-1 and GIP Incretins, it is not recommended to use in combination with a GLP-1 RA or the DPP-IV class of medications. Read more on our blog here.
Answer 2 is correct. 82.13% of you chose this answer, “Recommend stopping the semaglutide (Ozempic) before starting the Tirzepatide (Mounjaro).” YES, GREAT JOB! Since Tirzepatide is a combination of GLP-1 and GIP Incretins, it is not recommended to use in combination with a GLP-1 RA or the DPP-IV class of medications.
Answer 3 is incorrect. 4.12% of respondents chose this answer, “Reinforce the importance of prescribing a CGM before starting Tirzepatide (Mounjaro).” Since this person is not on insulin or any medications that would cause low blood sugar, a CGM is not required to monitor blood sugars. Blood glucose monitoring combined with regular A1C testing will be important to determine the efficacy of this new “twincretin”. Read more on our blog here.
Finally, Answer 4 is incorrect. 7.22% chose this answer, “Request provider also prescribes Glucagon rescue med in case of severe hypoglycemia.” Since this person is not on insulin or any medications that would cause low blood sugar, a glucagon rescue med is not required to treat severe hypoglycemia. Blood glucose monitoring combined with regular A1C testing will be important to determine the efficacy of this new “twincretin”. Read more on our blog here.
The FDA just approved a novel, dual incretin hormone therapy called Tirzepatide (Mounjaro).
This new twin incretin injectable includes not only a GLP-1 Receptor Agonist, but also a Glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), which magnifies the therapeutic effectiveness. The SURPASS studies indicate that study participants experienced an A1C drop of up to 2.5% and weight loss of up to 10kg or more.
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:
Deluxe Option for $499: Virtual Program includes:
Deluxe Version includes Syllabus, Standards and Swag*:
Basic Option for $399: Virtual Program includes:
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.
ADA Standards of Care recommend using a 5.07 monofilament to evaluate for loss of protective sensation in lower extremities in people with diabetes. Which of the following statements is most accurate regarding using a monofilament to assess lower extremities?
Click Here to Test your Knowledge
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:
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.
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.
For last week’s practice question, we quizzed test takers on the best blood sugar fix. 64% of respondents chose the best answer. We want to share this important information, so you can pass it on to people living with diabetes and your colleagues, plus prepare for exam success!
Before we start though, if you don’t want any spoilers and haven’t tried the question yet, you can answer it below: Answer Question
Question: LS wears an insulin pump and uses lispro insulin. LS has an average basal rate of 0.6 units and hour, a 1:15 carb ratio and a 1:50 correction ratio. Based on the ambulatory glucose profile, LS is experiencing elevated glucose levels from 4am to 7am. To get glucose to target, what is the best next step?
Answer Choices:
As shown above, the most common choice was option 4, the second most common answer was option 1, then option 2, and finally 3.
Answer 1 is incorrect. 16.26% chose this answer, “Add basal insulin glargine to prevent Somogyi effect.” Since LS uses an insulin pump, they don’t need to inject additional basal insulin (glargine) to get overnight blood sugars to target. With an insulin pump, the bolus insulin (lispro) acts as the basal insulin, delivering background insulin at 0.6 units an hour. In addition, Simogyi is defined as rebound hyperglycemia, or the sudden increase in blood sugars, due to stress hormones, after a significant hypoglycemic event. There is no symptoms in the question that indicate that LS is experiencing a Somogyi event. This is a juicy answer, but on closer inspection, not the best one.
Answer 2 is incorrect. 14.63% of you chose this answer, “Make sure LS isn’t consuming carbohydrates after 10pm.” Based on the glucose profile, LS blood sugars are increasing around 4am, which is most likely due to the Dawn Phenomena, not late night snacking. In the middle of the night, the body starts releasing growth hormone cortisol, and catecholamines, which causes an increase in blood sugars around 4am for many people with type 1 diabetes. This is referred to as the Dawn Phenomena. The best way to manage this is to slightly increase basal rate during the period when blood sugar is on the rise.
Answer 3 is incorrect. 4.88% of respondents chose this answer, “Ask LS to double check their CGM insertion site.” While it’s always good to check to make sure devices are working properly, this isn’t the case for this question. LS is having consistent glucose elevations from 4am to 7am, which is commonly referred to as the Dawn Phenomena. In the middle of the night, the body starts releasing growth hormone cortisol, and catecholamines, which causes an increase in blood sugars around 4am for many people with type 1 diabetes. The best way to manage this is to slightly increase basal rate during the period when blood sugar is on the rise.
Finally, Answer 4 is correct. 64.23% chose this answer, “Increase the basal rate to prevent glucose elevations.” YES, GREAT JOB. LS is having consistent glucose elevations from 4am to 7am, which is commonly referred to as the Dawn Phenomena. In the middle of the night, the body starts releasing growth hormone cortisol, and catecholamines, which causes an increase in blood sugars around 4am for many people with type 1 diabetes. The best way to manage this is to slightly increase basal rate during the period when blood sugar is on the rise.
Learn Test-Taking Secrets with Coach Bev – Option to add on 200+ Computerized Practice Test Questions for $49
During this webinar, Coach Beverly will help you transform your nervousness into focused energy that will help you succeed. She will provide test-taking tips based on her experience taking the certification exam six times.
To provide plenty of practice, Coach Beverly will sample 20 test questions that have been plucked from our Test Taking Toolkit during this live webinar.
She will explain how to dissect the question, eliminate wrong answers and avoid getting lured in by juicy answers.
Includes a review of 20 sample test questions with test taking strategies.
This includes access to the recorded version of this webinar on your Online University Student Portal.
Plus, the Test Taking Toolkit provides you with over 200+ sample online practice questions, simulating the exam experience.
A perfect way to assess your knowledge and create a focused study plan, while increasing your test-taking confidence.
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:
Deluxe Option for $499: Virtual Program includes:
Deluxe Version includes Syllabus, Standards and Swag*:
Basic Option for $399: Virtual Program includes:
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.
The FDA recently approved the new ‘twincretin” dual incretin hormone therapy called Tirzepatide (Mounjaro). The provider wants to start a person with type 2 diabetes on this new medication and asks for your consultation. The person’s current medications for type 2 diabetes include metformin, empagliflozin (Jardiance), semaglutide (Ozempic), and Pravachol. What is the best response to the provider?
Click Here to Test your Knowledge
The FDA just approved a novel, dual incretin hormone therapy called Tirzepatide (Mounjaro).
This new twin incretin injectable includes not only a GLP-1 Receptor Agonist, but also a Glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), which magnifies the therapeutic effectiveness. The SURPASS studies indicate that study participants experienced an A1C drop of up to 2.5% and weight loss of up to 10kg or more.
Learn Test-Taking Secrets with Coach Bev – Option to add on 200+ Computerized Practice Test Questions for $49
During this webinar, Coach Beverly will help you transform your nervousness into focused energy that will help you succeed. She will provide test-taking tips based on her experience taking the certification exam six times.
To provide plenty of practice, Coach Beverly will sample 20 test questions that have been plucked from our Test Taking Toolkit during this live webinar.
She will explain how to dissect the question, eliminate wrong answers and avoid getting lured in by juicy answers.
Includes a review of 20 sample test questions with test taking strategies.
This includes access to the recorded version of this webinar on your Online University Student Portal.
Plus, the Test Taking Toolkit provides you with over 200+ sample online practice questions, simulating the exam experience.
A perfect way to assess your knowledge and create a focused study plan, while increasing your test-taking confidence.
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.
Setting realistic person-centered goals is a critical part of providing diabetes education care and support. We have created a goal sheet that you can use in your practice to capture the next steps toward improving self-care.
You can customize this sheet with your logo and contact information or just download and print the PDF to get started. No permission is needed. We are delighted to share these sheets with you.
Taking on a new behavior is not easy.
By careful coaching, we can help participants create goals that are REALLY achievable and important to the individual.
For example, someone says they want to “eat more healthfully”, then we can ask, “What would that look like for you?”. They might reply, “I want to eat for more fruits and vegetables instead of junk food”. To get more specific, we can discuss how many servings of fruit and vegetables a day do they think would be realistic? We can encourage individuals to start with one to two servings a day and gradually increase portions as the person gains more confidence in their ability.
To help build success, we may want to emphasize that is doesn’t matter whether people consume fresh, frozen or canned fruits and vegetables. They all offer similar nutrient values. The main consideration is highlighting affordable and appealing fruits and veggies based on the individuals’ taste and preferences.
This simple goal sheet can help capture the negotiated goals and follow-up care activities. This checklist of activities can also be reminders for us to discuss eye and foot care, plus oral hygiene and vaccinations too.
Learn Test-Taking Secrets with Coach Bev – Option to add on 200+ Computerized Practice Test Questions for $49
During this webinar, Coach Beverly will help you transform your nervousness into focused energy that will help you succeed. She will provide test-taking tips based on her experience taking the certification exam six times.
To provide plenty of practice, Coach Beverly will sample 20 test questions that have been plucked from our Test Taking Toolkit during this live webinar.
She will explain how to dissect the question, eliminate wrong answers and avoid getting lured in by juicy answers.
Includes a review of 20 sample test questions with test taking strategies.
This includes access to the recorded version of this webinar on your Online University Student Portal.
Plus, the Test Taking Toolkit provides you with over 200+ sample online practice questions, simulating the exam experience.
A perfect way to assess your knowledge and create a focused study plan, while increasing your test-taking confidence.
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.