There is so much to keep track of when it comes to diabetes medication updates and additions. That’s why Coach Beverly and Bryanna are scouring articles and announcements to keep our Medication PocketCards relevant and up-to-date for our community.
We work hard to keep our content current!

We update our downloadable electronic PocketCards on our CDCES Coach app and website each time we announce a medication update.
Laminated PocketCards are updated and ready to be delivered to you!
Purchase yours today and take advantage of our quantity discounts! Great holiday gift!
3 PocketCard Updates
Since our last announcement, there have been three changes.
The GLP-1 RA, dulaglutide, (Trulicity), has two new higher doses. Until now, the approved doses for Trulicity were 0.75mg and 1.5 mg. The expanded dosing will include a 3.0 mg and 4.5 mg weekly Trulicity dose. Based on recent research, by increasing the dose to 4.5 mgs participants experienced an average weight loss of 10.4 pounds and a 1.9% drop in A1c. Of course, the increased dose is associated with nausea and GI upset, so a gradual titration up to this higher dose should be considered.
There is a new biosimilar basal insulin called Semglee.
One of our scholarship recipients, Mercy Edziah, alerted us to the addition of yet another biosimilar glargine insulin. Semglee is available in a 10 mL vial or 3mL prefilled pens. This new insulin is competitively priced. Semglee is listed at $98.65 per 10mL vial and $147.98 for a box of five pens.
Thank you to Mercy and our community, for sharing news with us so we can pass it along to others.
Canagliflozin (Invokana) removed the black box warning. Previously, the FDA had announced in 2017 that people on canagliflozin, an SGLT-2 Inhibitor, had an increased risk of lower extremity amputation. In August 2020, the FDA removed that black box warning.
Safety information from recent clinical trials suggests that the risk of amputation, while still increased with canagliflozin, is lower than previously described, particularly when appropriately monitored. Therefore, the FDA concluded that the Boxed Warning should be removed
Canagliflozin and 2 of the other of the SGLT-2 Inhibitors, dapagliflozin and Empagliflozin, have demonstrated additional heart- and kidney-related benefits. They are FDA approved to reduce the risk of major heart-related events such as heart attack, stroke, or death in people with type 2 diabetes who have known heart disease. They are also approved to reduce the risk of end-stage kidney disease, worsening of kidney function, and heart failure in certain people with type 2 diabetes and diabetic kidney disease.
We hope you find these Pocketcards as an easy-to-use resource that is helpful in your clinical practice and exam preparation.
Join Coach Beverly and Alan Parsa, MD virtually in Hawaii for the Best Diabetes Care For The Frail and Elderly Webinar!

Are you interested in learning about diabetes care for the frail and elderly? Then consider attending this all-day conference that synthesizes exciting findings and new elements that you can incorporate into your daily practice. Through dynamic presentations and case studies, we will provide you with creative strategies to take your practice to the next level. In addition, small group activities allow participants to network and share problem-solving strategies. The goal of this program is to provide cutting edge information that has real-life application. We want each participant to leave the seminar feeling more empowered and confident advocating for excellence in diabetes care.
Registration Price:
$20 for ADCES members – $40 for non-ADCES members – 6.5 CEs
Click here to register. – Download flyer here.
- October 24, 2020
- 9 am to 10 am – Hyperosmolar Hyperglycemic Non-Ketotic Syndrome (HHS) with Alan Parsa, MD
- 10 am to 11:15 am – Overview – Aging Population and Diabetes with Beverly Thomassian, RN
- October 31, 2020
- 9 am to 11:15 am – Treatment Goals, Type 2 Medications and Safety Concerns for Older Adults with Beverly Thomassian, RN
- November 7, 2020
- 9 am to 11:15 am – Pharmacologic Approaches to Manage Diabetes and Co-Conditions and Lifestyle Recommendations for the Older Adult with Beverly Thomassian, RN
Who Should Attend?
This course is designed for all health care professionals including providers, nurses, dietitians, pharmacists, and educators who want to:
- Get re-energized about diabetes care and education
- Enjoy a comprehensive review of diabetes care in the frail and elderly
- Get updates on treatment strategies for diabetes care in the frail and elderly
- Learn about lifestyle recommendations for the older adult
Requirements for Successful Completion: Participants should try to be in attendance for all three webinars, complete and submit the program evaluation at the conclusion of each webinar. Partial CE hours (2.25 CE hours) can be awarded per webinar if participants complete and submit the program evaluation. The three webinars will be recorded for later viewing but NO CE hours will be awarded for viewing of the recorded webinars.
Registration Price:
$20 for ADCES members – $40 for non-ADCES members – 6.5 CEs
Click here to register. – Download flyer here.
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.