For last week’s practice question, we quizzed test takers on basal, bolus and blood transfusions. 62% of respondents chose the best answer. We want to clarify and 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:
JZ is excited about their A1c of 5.4%. They take bolus insulin 4 times a day, plus basal insulin at night. To treat their leukemia, JZ receives blood transfusions weekly.
What is your biggest concern?
Answer Choices:
Answer 1 is incorrect. 12.71% chose this answer, “Is JZ experiencing lipohypertrophy?” This answer is tempting, but it is not accurate. Lipohypertrophy is a build up of fat at the injection site, often leading to hyperglycemia (not hypoglycemia) since much of the injected insulin is not being absorbed.
Answer 2 is incorrect. 19.91% of you chose this answer, “Why is JZ on multiple daily doses?” Another tempting answer, but is doesn’t address the reason behind the very low A1C. Certainly, we would want to investigate their regimen safety, but this doesn’t get to the intent of the question.
Answer 3 is incorrect. 5.33.% of respondents chose this answer, “Is JZ adjusting insulin for exercise?” Exercise can cause low blood sugar, but does it explain this A1C of 5.4%. JZ is getting blood transfusions to treat leukemia, can that be affecting their A1C?
Finally, Answer 4 is correct. 62.04% chose this answer, “What is JZ’s fructosamine level?” YES, GREAT JOB. For people receiving blood transfusions, A1C is not an accurate indicator of glucose levels, since they get infusions of non glycosylated red blood cells. This means they have new red blood cells mixing with their own glycosylated blood cells which can result in false lows A1C readings. For this situation, a better measurement is the fructosamine level, which measures the sugar coating of protein in the blood for the past 2-3 weeks. Fructosamine accuracy is not impacted by blood transfusions.
Thank you so much for reading this “Rationale of the Week”. You can download our Medication PocketCard below, for more information.
Diabetes Education Services Online University Courses are an excellent way to study for your exam anytime and anywhere that is convenient for you. You will have immediate access to your courses for 1 year after your purchase date. Each individual online course includes a: video presentation, podcast, practice test and additional resources.
Patients with cancer often experience hyperglycemia secondary to treatment, which can increase risk of infection and compromise their nutritional status. In addition, recent research has identified the link between diabetes and cancer. Join us to learn more about this unexpected link and treatment strategies for steroid induced hyperglycemia using a case study approach.
Objectives:
Intended Audience: These courses are knowledge-based activities designed for individual or groups of diabetes educators, including RNs, RDs, Pharmacists, Nurse Practitioners, Clinical Nurse Specialists, Physician Assistants and other health care providers interested in enhancing their knowledge of diabetes management for people with cancer.
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.
JR is taking Metformin 1000mg BID but is worried that it may increase their risk of cancer and is thinking about stopping the metformin.
Which of the following is an accurate statement regarding metformin, cancer and safety?
Click Here to Test your Knowledge
Diabetes Education Services Online University Courses are an excellent way to study for your exam anytime and anywhere that is convenient for you. You will have immediate access to your courses for 1 year after your purchase date. Each individual online course includes a: video presentation, podcast, practice test and additional resources.
Patients with cancer often experience hyperglycemia secondary to treatment, which can increase risk of infection and compromise their nutritional status. In addition, recent research has identified the link between diabetes and cancer. Join us to learn more about this unexpected link and treatment strategies for steroid induced hyperglycemia using a case study approach.
Objectives:
Intended Audience: These courses are knowledge-based activities designed for individual or groups of diabetes educators, including RNs, RDs, Pharmacists, Nurse Practitioners, Clinical Nurse Specialists, Physician Assistants and other health care providers interested in enhancing their knowledge of diabetes management for people with cancer.
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.
Diabetes Education Services Online University Courses are an excellent way to study for your exam anytime and anywhere that is convenient for you. You will have immediate access to your courses for 1 year after your purchase date. Each individual online course includes a: video presentation, podcast, practice test, and additional resources.
People with cancer often experience hyperglycemia secondary to treatment, which can increase the risk of infection and compromise their nutritional status. In addition, recent research has identified the link between diabetes and cancer. Join us to learn more about this unexpected link and treatment strategies for steroid-induced hyperglycemia using a case study approach.
Objectives:
Intended Audience: These courses are knowledge-based activities designed for individuals or groups of diabetes educators, including RNs, RDs, Pharmacists, Nurse Practitioners, Clinical Nurse Specialists, Physician Assistants, and other health care providers interested in enhancing their knowledge of diabetes management for people with cancer.
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.
For last week’s practice question, we quizzed test takers on JR’s fear of hypoglycemia. 85% of respondents chose the best answer. GREAT JOB. 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:
JR is 26 years old with type 1 diabetes for over a decade. JR keeps missing appointments and when you finally get a hold of them on the phone, they start crying and say “I am afraid my blood sugars will go too low, so I stopped using my bolus insulin”. They explain that they were too embarrassed to come in and have their data downloaded.
Based on this information, what would be the most helpful approach?
Answer Choices:
Answer 1 is incorrect. 5.15% chose this answer, “Provide reassurance and recognize that JR is dealing with childhood trauma.” While there is a real possibility that JR experienced childhood trauma, there is no information to support that assumption in the question. However, providing JR with reassurance and helping with problem solving would be very helpful.
Answer 2 is incorrect. 5.36% of you chose this answer, “Encourage JR to start using half their usual dose of bolus insulin to get started.” Although taking half of the usual dose of bolus insulin is certainly better than taking no insulin, it is not a person centered approach. We need to engage JR in determining the best approach.
Answer 3 is correct. 85.84.% of respondents chose this answer, “Recognize JR’s effort to prevent low blood sugars and explore their feelings.” YES, great job, this is the best answer. We want to use a strength based approach and acknowledge that JR is making a big effort to prevent hypoglycemia and stay safe. We also want to recognize JR’s big emotions around hypoglycemia and explore them more closely. Finally, we will encourage JR to identify next steps.
Finally, Answer 4 is incorrect. 3.65% chose this answer, “Remind JR that all of the downloaded data and reports are confidential.” Not the best answer, but it is true that many people may have access to JR’s reports, which can add even more pressure to make sure everything looks good. When we look at JR’s report, we want to make sure we acknowledge the periods where things are going well before we dive into the troubled spots.
Thank you so much for reading this “Rationale of the Week”.
Whether you are a novice or an expert in providing diabetes care, we invite you to attend this exciting training program that provides the essential steps to address diabetes distress combined with an innovative approach to glucose management that will revolutionize your practice.
“ReVive 5” breathes new life into our relationship with diabetes, bringing a fresh perspective to both the person with diabetes and the provider.
Team of Experts: ReVive 5 is taught by a team of 3 Interdisciplinary Experts:
Accredited Training Program:
Dates and Times for ReVive Virtual Training
Speakers Interviews – Learn more about the ReVive 5 Team
What is the Biggest Takeaway when Addressing Diabetes Distress? – Dr. Susan Guzman
Do you have to be a Mental Health Expert to Tackle Diabetes Distress? – Dr. Lawrence Fisher
Why I Transformed my Approach to Diabetes Self-Management Education- Coach Beverly
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.
JZ is excited about their A1c of 5.4%. They take bolus insulin 4 times a day, plus basal insulin at night. To treat their leukemia, JZ receives blood transfusions weekly.
What is your biggest concern?
Click Here to Test your Knowledge
Diabetes Education Services Online University Courses are an excellent way to study for your exam anytime and anywhere that is convenient for you. You will have immediate access to your courses for 1 year after your purchase date. Each individual online course includes a: video presentation, podcast, practice test and additional resources.
Patients with cancer often experience hyperglycemia secondary to treatment, which can increase risk of infection and compromise their nutritional status. In addition, recent research has identified the link between diabetes and cancer. Join us to learn more about this unexpected link and treatment strategies for steroid induced hyperglycemia using a case study approach.
Objectives:
Intended Audience: These courses are knowledge-based activities designed for individual or groups of diabetes educators, including RNs, RDs, Pharmacists, Nurse Practitioners, Clinical Nurse Specialists, Physician Assistants and other health care providers interested in enhancing their knowledge of diabetes management for people with cancer.
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.
A few years ago, I drastically changed my approach to diabetes self-management education as a result of participating in the Embark Trial Research Team.
To my surprise, the innovative coaching techniques I learned and applied in the Embark study upped my game and improved my skills. With this new approach, I feel a deeper sense of connection and experience more success when providing care to people with diabetes.
The good news is that we are ready to share these techniques with you. We have reassembled the Embark Instructional team to provide the evidence-based tools and the step-by-step approach in our ReVive 5 Diabetes Training Program.
We distilled the most important skills and content from the Embark study and packaged it into our four-session ReVive 5 Program.
ReVive 5 Training Program – First session FREE
Our first ReVive 5 class of the four-session series starts November 1st. Good news! As part of our opening launch celebration, we are inviting you to join the first training session for FREE.
For this newsletter, we feature interviews from the Embark Training and Research Team. Enjoy the wisdom of these two amazing pioneers in the field of Diabetes Distress. Plus, Coach Beverly shares the impact of the trial on her approach.
If you feel like a challenge, take a moment to check out our Question and Rationale of the Week. We are excited to announce our New and Improved Online University is up and running. You are invited to stop by, kick off your shoes and get comfy.
In recognition of Indigenous Peoples’ Day, we are honored to share the poem, “Remember” by Poet Laureate, Joy Harjo.
Thank you for caring and advocating on behalf of people living with diabetes. With gratitude,
Beverly, Bryanna, and Amanda
Featured Articles
Upcoming Webinars
Whether you are a novice or an expert in providing diabetes care, we invite you to attend this exciting training program that provides the essential steps to address diabetes distress combined with an innovative approach to glucose management that will revolutionize your practice.
“ReVive 5” breathes new life into our relationship with diabetes, bringing a fresh perspective to both the person with diabetes and the provider.
By releasing old habits that no longer serve us, we have the opportunity to create a new life tool kit toolkit in partnership with the person living with diabetes.
The ReVive 5 program is built on international research study results and will revolutionize your approach to diabetes self-management education.
Team of Experts:
ReVive 5 is taught by a team of 3 Interdisciplinary Experts:
Training 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.
When I was hired to be a part of the Embark Trial Team at UCSF, I felt confident in my approach to self-management education for people living with type 1 diabetes. After all, I had been providing diabetes care and education for over 20 years.
Little did I know that participating in this Trial would change my practice approach.
The Embark Trial, simply explained, was designed to evaluate if addressing diabetes distress and supporting an increased level of self-management confidence for people living with type 1 diabetes improved outcomes.
As part of the Embark Trial Team, I attended trainings which outlined the philosophy and novel approach of the intervention. The research team repeatedly emphasized that even though we were diabetes specialists, we were not to provide answers or solutions for the type 1 participants during the group classes or individual interventions. In addition, they taught us to use an innovative step-wise approach for glycemic management along with custom log sheets and strategies to address diabetes distress.
Putting this new approach to the test.
As part of the intervention team, I provided a group training and met individually with each participant for up to 30 minutes for about six sessions. During these sessions we would explore issues that they would like to address and guide them in problem solving.
For example, if a person with diabetes asked, “why are my blood sugars so high in the morning”, I couldn’t suggest to them that they probably needed to increase their basal insulin.
Instead, I encouraged them to draw on their own knowledge about their diabetes and ask, “Why do you think your blood sugars are elevated in the morning?”
Another example is I would ask participants to scroll through their insulin pumps to find their basal and bolus insulin settings. They would ask me, “how do I find those?”
Instead of providing step by step instructions, I encouraged participants to start looking through their pump settings to see if they could discover it themselves.
Guess what? Participants of all ages and backgrounds were able to figure it out without any hands-on instruction from the “fixer”.
Even though the coaching was provided over the phone and on zoom, with each accomplishment, I could feel them glowing with the pride of self-discovery.
The participants were gaining a sense of agency and mastery.
And I was transitioning from being a “Fixer” to becoming a “Coach”. It felt great.
To be honest, it took a lot of pressure off of me to be the “all knowing” diabetes professional. This approach freed me from feeling like a failure if I didn’t know all the ins and outs of insulin pumps, CGMs, carb counting ratios and more. It felt very collaborative and I felt more authentic.
More importantly, I was able to tap into the individuals expertise by REALLY listening, asking meaningful questions and helping them find solutions. It turns out that people with diabetes have a lot of expertise in themselves. Unfortunately too many times, during provider visits, even though they try to share their worries, concerns and emotions, they often aren’t really seen and heard.
The study also provided simple conversational tools that the diabetes specialists could use to help participants address their diabetes distress. We often feel stuck or not sure how to best help people struggling with the real life distress that comes with living with a chronic condition 24/7/365. The approach used in this study empowered me to try new approaches that really made a difference.
As diabetes health care professionals, we can’t know everything, but we can gain needed skills to help address distress and encourage individuals figure it out for themselves. Being a part of this study help me grow my “Coach” approach and let my “Fixer” know that it can relax, we will call upon it as needed.
Now, we are excited to share the tools and approaches used in this study with our community of diabetes health professionals.
We have reassembled the training team and created a resource binder of fantastic tools that we are excited to share this all with you in our ReVive 5 Diabetes Training Program. Join us to learn a step-wise, proven approach to address hidden barriers to diabetes self-management and glucose management.
Live Virtual Sessions Air June 17 & June 24th
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.