We quizzed test takers on identifying why a teenager with type 1 is only taking insulin “when they feel like it”. 73% of respondents, chose the best answer. We want to share this important info so you can pass it on to people living with diabetes, your colleagues and 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 below: Answer Question

Question: JR is a 15-year-old admitted to the hospital with DKA for the second time this month.  JR says they are tired of their parents always telling them how to manage their diabetes. They just stopped wearing their continuous glucose monitor and tell you they “take insulin when they feel like it”. 

What best describes what this teenager is experiencing?

Answer Choices:

• Diabetes distress.
• Diabetes burnout.
• Severe anxiety.
• Fear of hypoglycemia.

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As shown above, the most common choice was option 2, the second most common answer was option 1, then option 3, and then finally option 4.

Getting to the Best Answer

Answer 1 is incorrect. 24.39% chose this answer, “Diabetes distress.” JR certainly is dealing with aspects of diabetes distress, which is described as feeling like it’s too much or that things are out of control. However, the fact that “JR just stopped wearing their continuous glucose monitor and is only “taking insulin when they feel like it”, gives us a more complete understanding that JR is experiencing more than distress. Please see our blog on How to Identify Diabetes Distress and Burnout.

Answer 2 is correct. 73.17% of you chose this answer, “Diabetes burnout.” YES, this is the BEST ANSWER. Great job! Diabetes burnout is an emotional reaction that is usually more intense than diabetes distress. A person in the state of burnout is someone with diabetes who has grown tired of managing their condition, then simply ignores it for a period of time. The fact that JR stopped wearing their CGM and only takes insulin when they feel like it, are strong indicators that JR is on a diabetes vacation and is burned out. This might mistakenly be perceived as non-compliance, but these behaviors indicate that JR is really struggling and needs the support of the health care team. Visit our page on Diabetes Burnout or Distress? 12 Reframes that can HELP for ideas to support people struggling with their diabetes self care.

Answer 3 is incorrect. 1.33% of respondents chose this answer, “Severe anxiety.” Hardly any of you chose this because in this vignette, JR is not exhibiting any signs of anxiety. Good job.

Finally, Answer 4 is incorrect. 1.11% chose this answer, “Fear of hypoglycemia.” Since this vignette does not mention that JR has experienced lows or that JR lets blood sugars run high to prevent lows, this is not the best answer. Good job.

Learn more about Diabetes Distress in our December Newsletter.

We hope you appreciate this week’s rationale! Thank you so much for taking the time to answer our Question of the Week and participate in this important learning activity!

Want to learn more? Join our Webinar on Hyperglycemic Crisis, which is ready for viewing!

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Want to learn more about this topic?

Enroll in our Level 2 | Assessing and Promoting Well-Being: From Population Health to a Person-Centered Approach Standards | 1.5 CEs

Updated for the new 2022 ADA Standards of Care

This presentation will include the latest information on Social Determinants of health, assessment strategies, and approaches. We will explore the psychosocial issues that can discourage individuals from adopting healthier behaviors and provides strategies to identify and overcome these barriers. Life studies are used to apply theory to real-life situations. A great course for anyone in the field of diabetes education or for those looking for a new perspective on assessment and coping strategies.

Objectives:

1. State strategies to assess and address social determinants of health
2. Discuss health care delivery systems using a person-centered approach
3. List screening tools that can help detect distress, depression, trauma, and cognitive decline
4. Describe psycho-social and emotional barriers to diabetes self-management
5. Provide strategies for healthcare professionals to identify and overcome barriers to self-care

Intended Audience:  A great course for healthcare professionals in the field of diabetes education looking for a straightforward explanation of identification and treatment of hyperglycemic crises.

Instructor: Beverly Thomassian RN, MPH, CDCES, BC-ADM is a working educator and a nationally recognized diabetes expert.

Enroll in our entire Level 2 – Standards of Care to join us for the below 2022 Live Webinar Updates. All courses air at 11:30 a.m. (PST)

• Recorded December 15, 2021 – Hyperglycemic Crises, DKA & HHS Standards | 1.0 CE
• Recorded December 21, 2021 – Assessing and Promoting Well-Being: From Population Health to a Person-Centered Approach Standards | 1.5 CEs
• February 3, 2022 – ADA Standards of Care | 2.0 CEs
• March 24, 2022 – Meds Management for Type 2 – 1.5 CEs
• March 29, 2022 – Lower Extremity Assessment 1.5 CEs
• April 26, 2022 – Microvascular Complications, Eye, Kidney Nerve Disease 1.5 CEs
• April 28, 2022 – Critical Assessment of Diabetes Patient 2.0 CEs
• May 10, 2022 – Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes Standards 1.5 CEs
• May 12, 2022 – Older Adults and DIabetes 1.5 CEs
• May 17, 2022 – Tots to Teens – Diabetes Standards 1.5 CEs
• May 19, 2022 – Pregnancy and Diabetes 1.5 CEs
• May 26, 2022 – Hospital and Hyperglycemia 1.5 CEs
• July 21, 2022 – Setting up a Successful Diabetes Program 1.5 CEs

All hours earned count toward your CDCES Accreditation Information

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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!

Email Address Sign Me Up!

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.

• In most states, it can be purchased over the counter without a prescription
• Instructions include to gently shake before injection to adequately mix the particles
• NPH stands for Natural Proinsulin Hagedorn
• Due to its high rates of hypoglycemia, NPH is no longer recommended.

Click Here to Test your Knowledge

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Want to learn more about this topic?

Enroll in our Diabetes Fundamentals | Level 1

Airs Live Jan 11th – Jan 27th, 2022 at 11:30 am PST

This bundle is specifically designed for healthcare professionals who want to learn more about diabetes fundamentals for their clinical practice or for those who are studying for the Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) exam.

2022 Live Webinar Updates

• January 11, 2022 – Class 1 – Getting to the Nitty Gritty 1.5 CEs
• January 13, 2022 – Class 2 – Nutrition and Exercise 1.5 CEs
• January 18, 2022 – Class 3 – Insulin Therapy & Pattern Management 1.5 CEs
• January 20, 2022 – Class 4 – Meds Overview for Type 2 – 1.5 CEs
• January 25, 2022 – Class 5 – Goals of Care – 1.5 CEs
• January 27, 2022 – Class 6 – Hypoglycemia, Sick Days, Monitoring, Foot Care 1.5 CEs

Intended Audience:  A great course for healthcare professionals in the field of diabetes education looking for a straightforward explanation of identification and treatment of hyperglycemic crises.

Instructor: Beverly Thomassian RN, MPH, CDCES, BC-ADM is a working educator and a nationally recognized diabetes expert.

All hours earned count toward your CDCES Accreditation Information

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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!

Email Address Sign Me Up!

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.

Our Updated Test Taking Practice Exam Toolkit Webinar
with 20 Sample Practice Questions is Recorded & Ready to Watch!

You are invited to join Coach Beverly for this FREE Webinar. And, if you want to have access to an additional 220+ sample practice online questions, you can purchase the complete Test Taking Toolkit.

For many of us, taking the certification exam is a nerve-wracking process.

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.

2 Ways to Join Test Taking Webinar

Watch Webinar for FREE

This includes a review of 20 sample test questions with test-taking strategies. This does not include access to the recorded webinar or the practice questions.

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 220 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.

Don’t worry if you can’t make it live.
Your registration guarantees access to the recorded version.

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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!

Email Address Sign Me Up!

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.

Let’s be honest. There is a lot of work associated with diabetes self-management. And despite best efforts, sometimes blood sugars just land in the above target or below target zone. That’s why we are trying to move away from using the term “control”, because it suggests that a person can take certain actions to get blood sugars on target all the time, and that’s just not true. At any given time, there are dozens of factors affecting blood sugar including; body temperature, stress levels, glucagon release, activity level, undigested food, metabolic rate, time since eating and many more.

Plus, diabetes self-management can be very burdensome, especially when you add on the emotional responses and expectations. Here is how a diabetes specialist, Heather Beiden Jacobs, described the burden of daily self-management.

Let’s imagine that each self-care activity is a different size rock that a person carries around in their diabetes backpack.  They check their blood sugar before breakfast and it’s above target.  The first rock in the backpack is pretty heavy because it holds the action of evaluating their blood sugar PLUS the emotions around the number being above their target.  They take some insulin (next rock) and skip breakfast and head to work.  They get low blood sugar while at a meeting and need to leave to get a snack from the vending machine (soda).  This is another heavy rock, because not only did they have to manage a low, but there can also be a lot of big feelings around letting blood sugars go too low. Throughout the rest of the day, they add several more rocks to their backpack which can make things can start getting really heavy and burdensome.

If this kind of day only happens occasionally then their backpack is usually pretty light and manageable. But, if day after day the blood sugars are fluctuating a lot and the person can’t seem to get them on target, the backpack becomes very heavy and unwieldy.

That’s when the negative and judgmental emotions can creep in, these are the ones that are usually associated with feeling like they are not doing enough to manage their diabetes. That no matter what, blood sugars are “out of control”.

This can dramatically impact the daily quality of life and their ability to self-manage.  A person might feel like, why bother? They might even take a diabetes vacation. We want to support people on their diabetes self-management journey and help them minimize distress and burnout. Coach Beverly listened to a bunch of great podcasts by the experts in the field and compiled a summary of the suggestions plus added in a few of her own garnered from decades of supporting people through “diabetes vacations”.

12 Reframes to Help with Diabetes Burnout or Distress

• It’s not your fault you have diabetes. It’s not your fault your pancreas doesn’t work right.
• You can’t control your blood sugars all the time, but you can take actions to manage your diabetes to the best of your ability.
• Blood sugars are not good or bad, they are just numbers that inform us of what action is needed next.
• Listen to your self-talk.  It is tempting to be overly self-critical and blame ourselves.  Try to imagine you are coaching a friend with diabetes. What advice or coaching would you provide?
• Diabetes isn’t about perfect or getting it right all the time. Its about taking baby steps to make small improvements and keep safe.  
• Take short mental breaks from your diabetes – walk outside, enjoy a hobby, listen to music, volunteer, join a group.
• Talk about your feelings to friends and family.  Let them know how to help you succeed and things that don’t help.
• Keep active, nourish your body, try meditation, enjoy oxygen cocktails, get out in nature.
• Remind yourself of all the work you ARE doing to manage your diabetes
• Join diabetes camps, social media groups, find your people, your community.
• Consider connecting with a mental health professional.
• Remember, you are not alone. You are resilient. You are not your blood sugars. You got this.  Baby Steps.

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Want to learn more about this topic?

Enroll in our Level 2 | Assessing and Promoting Well-Being: From Population Health to a Person-Centered Approach Standards | 1.5 CEs

Annual Update Recorded on December 21st

This presentation will include the latest information on Social Determinants of health, assessment strategies, and approaches. We will explore the psychosocial issues that can discourage individuals from adopting healthier behaviors and provides strategies to identify and overcome these barriers. Life studies are used to apply theory to real-life situations. A great course for anyone in the field of diabetes education or for those looking for a new perspective on assessment and coping strategies.

Objectives:

1. State strategies to assess and address social determinants of health
2. Discuss health care delivery systems using a person-centered approach
3. List screening tools that can help detect depression, trauma, and cognitive decline
4. Describe psycho-social and emotional barriers to diabetes self-management
5. Provide strategies for healthcare professionals to identify and overcome barriers to self-care

Intended Audience:  A great course for healthcare professionals in the field of diabetes education looking for a straightforward explanation of identification and treatment of hyperglycemic crises.

Instructor: Beverly Thomassian RN, MPH, CDCES, BC-ADM is a working educator and a nationally recognized diabetes expert.

Enroll in our entire Level 2 – Standards of Care to join us for the below 2022 Live Webinar Updates. All courses air at 11:30 a.m. (PST)

• December 15, 2021 – Hyperglycemic Crises, DKA & HHS Standards | 1.0 CE
• December 21, 2021 – Assessing and Promoting Well-Being: From Population Health to a Person-Centered Approach Standards | 1.5 CEs
• February 3, 2022 – ADA Standards of Care | 2.0 CEs
• March 24, 2022 – Meds Management for Type 2 – 1.5 CEs
• March 29, 2022 – Lower Extremity Assessment 1.5 CEs
• April 26, 2022 – Microvascular Complications, Eye, Kidney Nerve Disease 1.5 CEs
• April 28, 2022 – Critical Assessment of Diabetes Patient 2.0 CEs
• May 10, 2022 – Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes Standards 1.5 CEs
• May 12, 2022 – Older Adults and DIabetes 1.5 CEs
• May 17, 2022 – Tots to Teens – Diabetes Standards 1.5 CEs
• May 19, 2022 – Pregnancy and Diabetes 1.5 CEs
• May 26, 2022 – Hospital and Hyperglycemia 1.5 CEs
• July 21, 2022 – Setting up a Successful Diabetes Program 1.5 CEs

All hours earned count toward your CDCES Accreditation Information

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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!

Email Address Sign Me Up!

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.

We quizzed test takers on hyperglycemic crisis. 61% of respondents, chose the best answer. We want to share this important info so you can pass it on to people living with diabetes and your colleagues and 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 below: Answer Question

Question: People with type 1 or type 2 diabetes can experience hyperglycemic crises. 

Which of the following is true about Diabetes Ketoacidosis (DKA)?

Answer Choices:

• People with Latent Autoimmune Diabetes (LADA) are not at risk of DKA.
• DKA is associated with hyperkalemia and elevated pH.
• DKA can be managed with IV or Sub-Q insulin therapy.
• People with type 1 on SGLT-2s have lower risk of DKA than those with type 2.

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As shown above, the most common choice was option 3, the second most common answer was option 2, then a tie for option 1 and option 4.

Getting to the Best Answer

Answer 1 is incorrect. 7.85% chose this answer, “People with Latent Autoimmune Diabetes (LADA) are not at risk of DKA.” Any person with a substantial insulin deficiency (including type 1, type 2 and people with LADA) are at risk of ketoacidosis. The risk increases during periods of illness, inadequate calorie intake or when an individual is not injecting adequate insulin. Most individuals with LADA need insulin within 6 months of diagnosis to maintain glucose levels. Without insulin injections, people with LADA can’t use glucose for fuel and will start burning fat for energy, which leads to excess circulating ketones and potentially DKA.

Answer 2 is incorrect. 23.36% of you chose this answer, “DKA is associated with hyperkalemia and elevated pH.” Part of this answer is correct, which makes it a juicy answer. This common test taking pitfall is easy to fall into. It is true that people in DKA can become hyperkalemic, but they also always experience acidosis, which causes the pH to fall, not elevate.

Answer 3 is correct. 60.93% of respondents chose this answer, “DKA can be managed with IV or Sub-Q insulin therapy.” Yes, GREAT job, this is the BEST answer. Mild or moderate DKA can be treated using SubQ insulin and all levels of DKA can be treated with IV insulin. The treatment choice is based on health care setting, provider preference, and the patient’s presentation.

Finally, Answer 4 is incorrect. 7.85% chose this answer, “People with type 1 on SGLT-2s have lower risk of DKA than those with type 2.” Some people living with Type 1 may be started on an SGLT-2 (which is OFF-LABEL) by their provider to help with glucose management and lower insulin needs. People with type 2 diabetes, may also be started on an SLGT-2. Both groups are at increased risk for experiencing DKA on a SGLT-2. However, the person with type 1 is at HIGHER risk of experiencing DKA, because they have an absolute insulin deficiency and if they reduce their insulin dose too much, they might need to convert from using glucose for fuel to fat for fuel, leading to DKA.

We hope you appreciate this week’s rationale! Thank you so much for taking the time to answer our Question of the Week and participate in this important learning activity!

Want to learn more? Join our Webinar on Hyperglycemic Crisis, which is ready for viewing!

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Want to learn more about this topic?

Level 2 | Hyperglycemic Crises, DKA & HHS Standards | 1.0 CE

Annual Webinar Recorded on December 15th

This course discusses common causes of hyperglycemia crises. Topics include hyperglycemia secondary to medications and insulin deprivation. The difference and similarities between Diabetes Ketoacidosis and Hyperosmolar Hyperglycemic Syndrome are also covered. Treatment strategies for all situations are included.

Objectives:

1. Common causes of hyperglycemic crises.
2. The difference and similarities between DKA and HHS and treatment strategies
3. Causes and treatment of hyperglycemic crises.

Intended Audience:  A great course for healthcare professionals in the field of diabetes education looking for a straightforward explanation of identification and treatment of hyperglycemic crises.

Instructor: Beverly Thomassian RN, MPH, CDCES, BC-ADM is a working educator and a nationally recognized diabetes expert.

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Enroll in our entire Level 2 – Standards of Care to join us for the below Annual Live Webinar Updates. All courses air at 11:30 a.m. (PST)

• December 15, 2021 – Hyperglycemic Crises, DKA & HHS Standards | 1.0 CE
• December 21, 2021 – Assessing and Promoting Well-Being: From Population Health to a Person-Centered Approach Standards | 1.5 CEs
• February 3, 2022 – ADA Standards of Care | 2.0 CEs
• March 24, 2022 – Meds Management for Type 2 – 1.5 CEs
• March 29, 2022 – Lower Extremity Assessment 1.5 CEs
• April 26, 2022 – Microvascular Complications, Eye, Kidney Nerve Disease 1.5 CEs
• April 28, 2022 – Critical Assessment of Diabetes Patient 2.0 CEs
• May 10, 2022 – Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes Standards 1.5 CEs
• May 12, 2022 – Older Adults and DIabetes 1.5 CEs
• May 17, 2022 – Tots to Teens – Diabetes Standards 1.5 CEs
• May 19, 2022 – Pregnancy and Diabetes 1.5 CEs
• May 26, 2022 – Hospital and Hyperglycemia 1.5 CEs
• July 21, 2022 – Setting up a Successful Diabetes Program 1.5 CEs

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!

Email Address Sign Me Up!

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 distress.
• Diabetes burnout.
• Severe anxiety.
• Fear of hypoglycemia.

Click Here to Test your Knowledge

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Want to learn more about this topic?

Enroll in our Level 2 | Assessing and Promoting Well-Being: From Population Health to a Person-Centered Approach Standards | 1.5 CEs

Annual Update Airs Live on December 21st at 11:30 am PST

This presentation will include the latest information on Social Determinants of health, assessment strategies, and approaches. We will explore the psychosocial issues that can discourage individuals from adopting healthier behaviors and provides strategies to identify and overcome these barriers. Life studies are used to apply theory to real-life situations. A great course for anyone in the field of diabetes education or for those looking for a new perspective on assessment and coping strategies.

Objectives:

1. State strategies to assess and address social determinants of health
2. Discuss health care delivery systems using a person-centered approach
3. List screening tools that can help detect distress, depression, trauma, and cognitive decline
4. Describe psycho-social and emotional barriers to diabetes self-management
5. Provide strategies for healthcare professionals to identify and overcome barriers to self-care

Intended Audience:  A great course for healthcare professionals in the field of diabetes education looking for a straightforward explanation of identification and treatment of hyperglycemic crises.

Instructor: Beverly Thomassian RN, MPH, CDCES, BC-ADM is a working educator and a nationally recognized diabetes expert.

Enroll in our entire Level 2 – Standards of Care to join us for the below 2022 Live Webinar Updates. All courses air at 11:30 a.m. (PST)

• December 15, 2021 – Hyperglycemic Crises, DKA & HHS Standards | 1.0 CE
• December 21, 2021 – Assessing and Promoting Well-Being: From Population Health to a Person-Centered Approach Standards | 1.5 CEs
• February 3, 2022 – ADA Standards of Care | 2.0 CEs
• March 24, 2022 – Meds Management for Type 2 – 1.5 CEs
• March 29, 2022 – Lower Extremity Assessment 1.5 CEs
• April 26, 2022 – Microvascular Complications, Eye, Kidney Nerve Disease 1.5 CEs
• April 28, 2022 – Critical Assessment of Diabetes Patient 2.0 CEs
• May 10, 2022 – Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes Standards 1.5 CEs
• May 12, 2022 – Older Adults and DIabetes 1.5 CEs
• May 17, 2022 – Tots to Teens – Diabetes Standards 1.5 CEs
• May 19, 2022 – Pregnancy and Diabetes 1.5 CEs
• May 26, 2022 – Hospital and Hyperglycemia 1.5 CEs
• July 21, 2022 – Setting up a Successful Diabetes Program 1.5 CEs

All hours earned count toward your CDCES Accreditation Information

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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!

Email Address Sign Me Up!

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.

December eNews | Diabetes Distress & Holidays? New Handout with 12 Reframes to Help

Happy December

Greetings to my wonderful health care colleagues. Thank you for all the love and care you have provided this year. I know you touch the lives and hearts of many people who boldly try their best to self-manage their diabetes and I am grateful for you!

As I am sure you have witnessed over time, holidays can amplify stress levels for people living with diabetes. With that in mind, we think this is a perfect time to provide you with some tools to address diabetes distress and burnout during the holidays and in preparation for those New Year resolutions.

Approximately 30% of people with diabetes experience distress at any given time. In addition, many people may be struggling with diabetes burnout.

As health care providers, how do we know if someone is in diabetes distress or is burning out on their self-care?

We might connect with these individuals in a hyperglycemic or hypoglycemic crisis. Maybe they are not showing up for their appointments. These individuals might be mistakenly labeled as “non-adherent” or it may be wrongly assumed that they just don’t care. However, we are compelled to reach out to them and provide a compassionate check-in of their emotional health and state of well-being.

Diabetes specialists help identify and address diabetes distress to improve quality of life and outcomes.

Read more to learn the definition and signs of diabetes distress and burnout and what action to take. Download our FREE Handouts on Surviving the Holidays and Ideas to Deal with Diabetes Distress.

We hope you can join us for our Annual Webinar Updates starting in December. We have over 50 courses to update, so Coach Bev likes to get an early start (see schedule below).

Wishing you health and moments of awe as we move toward 2022.

Coach Beverly, Bryanna, and Jackson

Click here to read our full December 2021 newsletter.

Featured Topics

• How to Identify Diabetes Distress
• 12 Ways to Help Diabetes Distress
• Coach Bev Receives Statewide World
• Question of the Week
• Rationale of the Week

Upcoming Webinars

• CDCES vs. BC-ADM | Dec 9th
• Hyperglycemic Crisis | Dec 15th
• Test Taking Toolkit | Dec 16th
• Assessing & Promoting Well-Being | Dec 9th
• Diabetes Fundamentals | Begins Jan 11th
• ADA Standards of Care | Feb 3rd
• Bootcamp | Begins Feb 8th

Featured Items

• CDCES Prep Bundle + Review Guide
• Free Resources

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Test Taking Practice Exam Toolkit Webinar
20 Sample Practice Questions

Join us live June 30, 2022, for live webinar 2022 updates

You are invited to join Coach Beverly for this FREE Webinar. And, if you want to have access to an additional 220+ sample practice online questions, you can purchase the complete Test Taking Toolkit.

For many of us, taking the certification exam is a nerve-wracking process.

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.

2 Ways to Join Test Taking Webinar

Watch Webinar for FREE

This includes a review of 20 sample test questions with test-taking strategies. This does not include access to the recorded webinar or the practice questions.

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 220 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.

Don’t worry if you can’t make it live.
Your registration guarantees access to the recorded version.

---

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!

Email Address Sign Me Up!

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.

Our November 30th Question of the week quizzed test takers on Diabetes Distress. 75% of respondents, chose the best answer, which is awesome. Providing person centered care and assessing for diabetes distress are both critically important knowledge points for clinical practice and also for the certification exams.

Before we start though, if you don’t want any spoilers and haven’t tried the question yet, you can answer below: Answer Question

Question:

About 30% of people living with type 1 diabetes experience diabetes distress.

Which of the following statements reflects someone struggling with diabetes distress?

Answer Choices:

• I just can’t keep up with all this diabetes self-care stuff.
• I am having trouble with carbohydrate counting.
• I just don’t want to get out of bed in the morning.
• I don’t want to wear a diabetes bracelet or necklace.

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As shown above, the most common choice was option 3, the second most common answer was option 2, then option 4, and finally option 1.

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Getting to the Best Answer

Answer 1 is correct. 74.96% chose this answer, “I just can’t keep up with all this diabetes self-care stuff.” Yes, GREAT JOB. When diabetes self-care all starts feeling like it’s too much or like it’s out of control, that’s when we might say a person is experiencing diabetes distress. Regimen distress is the most common area that people with diabetes come up against. Please see our blog on How to Identify Diabetes Distress and Burnout for information on how to help with diabetes distress.

Answer 2 is incorrect. 2.42% of you chose this answer, “I am having trouble with carbohydrate counting.” This comment indicates a common knowledge gap that can be addressed through providing resources and carb counting information and does not indicate distress.

Answer 3 is incorrect. 20.38% of respondents chose this answer, “I just don’t want to get out of bed in the morning.” If a person with diabetes makes this statement, we would be concerned that they are grappling with more than distress. This comment would prompt us to screen for depression. Please see this link to download the Diabetes Distress Scale and other psychosocial screening tools.

Finally, Answer 4 is incorrect. 2.25% chose this answer, “I don’t want to wear a diabetes bracelet or necklace.” Although we recommend that people taking insulin wear diabetes identification in case of emergency, it is not mandatory and they can chose not to wear one. This comment alone does not indicate diabetes distress.

We hope you appreciate this week’s rationale! Thank you so much for taking the time to answer our Question of the Week and participate in this fun learning activity!

Please see our blog on How to Identify Diabetes Distress and Burnout for more information.

 Please see this link to download the Diabetes Distress Scale and other psychosocial screening tools.

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Want to learn more about this topic?

Enroll in our Level 2 | Assessing and Promoting Well-Being: From Population Health to a Person-Centered Approach Standards | 1.5 CEs

Annual Update Airs Live on December 21st at 11:30 am PST

This presentation will include the latest information on Social Determinants of health, assessment strategies, and approaches. We will explore the psychosocial issues that can discourage individuals from adopting healthier behaviors and provides strategies to identify and overcome these barriers. Life studies are used to apply theory to real-life situations. A great course for anyone in the field of diabetes education or for those looking for a new perspective on assessment and coping strategies.

Objectives:

1. State strategies to assess and address social determinants of health
2. Discuss health care delivery systems using a person-centered approach
3. List screening tools that can help detect distress, depression, trauma, and cognitive decline
4. Describe psycho-social and emotional barriers to diabetes self-management
5. Provide strategies for healthcare professionals to identify and overcome barriers to self-care

Intended Audience:  A great course for healthcare professionals in the field of diabetes education looking for a straightforward explanation of identification and treatment of hyperglycemic crises.

Instructor: Beverly Thomassian RN, MPH, CDCES, BC-ADM is a working educator and a nationally recognized diabetes expert.

Enroll in our entire Level 2 – Standards of Care to join us for the below 2022 Live Webinar Updates. All courses air at 11:30 a.m. (PST)

• December 15, 2021 – Hyperglycemic Crises, DKA & HHS Standards | 1.0 CE
• December 21, 2021 – Assessing and Promoting Well-Being: From Population Health to a Person-Centered Approach Standards | 1.5 CEs
• February 3, 2022 – ADA Standards of Care | 2.0 CEs
• March 24, 2022 – Meds Management for Type 2 – 1.5 CEs
• March 29, 2022 – Lower Extremity Assessment 1.5 CEs
• April 26, 2022 – Microvascular Complications, Eye, Kidney Nerve Disease 1.5 CEs
• April 28, 2022 – Critical Assessment of Diabetes Patient 2.0 CEs
• May 10, 2022 – Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes Standards 1.5 CEs
• May 12, 2022 – Older Adults and DIabetes 1.5 CEs
• May 17, 2022 – Tots to Teens – Diabetes Standards 1.5 CEs
• May 19, 2022 – Pregnancy and Diabetes 1.5 CEs
• May 26, 2022 – Hospital and Hyperglycemia 1.5 CEs
• July 21, 2022 – Setting up a Successful Diabetes Program 1.5 CEs

All hours earned count toward your CDCES Accreditation Information

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