Maintaining competency in the treatment of diabetes is crucial for all healthcare professionals. According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), there were 37.3 million Americans, roughly 11.3% of the population, with diabetes in 2019. Unfortunately, 8.5 million of those individuals were undiagnosed. In addition, there were 96 million Americans over the age of 18 who had prediabetes. To further emphasize the importance of proper management, there were 87,647 deaths in 2019 directly attributed to diabetes and an additional 282,801 mentions of diabetes on the death certificate.
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The Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists (ADCES) encourages innovative education, management, and support of individuals with prediabetes and diabetes. They describe the benefits of providing diabetes education, which include:
- Increased utilization of primary care and preventative services
- Improved medication adherence
- Better glycemic control
- An overall decrease in health costs
A study completed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) focused on the impact of education on diabetes self-care. An education program called Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) was utilized in the study of US adults with diabetes over the age of 18. The participants were asked if they followed any of the following self-care practices:
- Refraining from smoking
- Daily blood glucose checks
- Inspecting feet daily for sores or injuries
- Following a regular physical activity routine
- Receiving a pneumonia vaccine
- Hgb A1C testing twice a year
- Annual eye examinations
- Receiving flu vaccinations
- Annual health care visits
- Annual foot examinations by a medical professional
This study revealed that 25% of those who completed the education program versus 10% of study participants who had never received diabetes education followed 90% or more of the self-care practices.
These statistics and studies underline the importance of diabetes management education on the overall quality of life and health outcomes for those with prediabetes and diabetes. This blog post will review the freeCE Online Diabetes Certificate Course Hands-on Diabetes: A Practical Way to Manage Diabetes, which focuses on the latest information for managing diabetes.
WHAT IS THE HANDS-ON DIABETES COURSE?
The Hands-On Diabetes course is for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians and provides access to on-demand modules essential for patients seeking advice on managing their diabetes.
Our Hands-On Diabetes course consists of six modules, including using a glucometer, administering injectables, hypoglycemia management, and more. This course is customized for pharmacists and pharmacy techs to provide the knowledge needed to serve your patients best.
The Hands-On Diabetes course presents diabetic care through straightforward instruction with in-depth videos to train you on the latest diabetes management. We make learning the basics of managing diabetes engaging with an expert instructor, industry-specific vocabulary, and lessons you can access anywhere, anytime, on any device with internet access.
Course faculty is Samuel Grossman, PharmD, PhD, CDCES, FACDCES. Dr. Grossman is a clinical pharmacy specialist in the primary care department of VA New York Harbor Health Care System (NYHHCS). Dr. Grossman is also an instructor at the Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Colorado.
COURSE DETAILS: HANDS-ON DIABETES – A PRACTICAL WAY TO MANAGE DIABETES
- Discover how to serve your diabetic patients.
- Foundational diabetes knowledge.
- Learn to educate patients on the importance of managing diabetes
- Taught by ADCES’s 2021 Diabetes Care and Education Specialist of the Year Award recipient
- Made for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.
- Affordable education specialist certificate.
- Instantly downloadable certificate upon completion.
- Earn 6 hours of CE. The course meets CE requirements from the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) and the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP).
- The course is accredited by the Accreditation Council For Pharmacy Education (ACPE) and meets all state and national requirements.
- Instant CE reporting to accrediting bodies allows you to apply your hours as soon as you complete the course. Compatible with CPE Monitor from the NABP and CE Broker.
WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE HANDS-ON DIABETES COURSE?
The Hands-On Diabetes course consists of six lessons covering what you need to know to provide your patients with the latest diabetes management.
LESSON 1 – INTRODUCTION
- Recognize the role of a pharmacist in providing diabetes education
- Identify the benefits of medication treatment management for diabetes care
- Recognize appropriate counseling points for patients with diabetes in the pharmacy
LESSON 2 – USING A GLUCOMETER
- Compare and contrast the most common glucometers
- Identify steps of how to use a glucometer
- Recognize the variables that impact blood glucose readings from a glucometer
LESSON 3 – BLOOD GLUCOSE MONITORING USING A CONTINUOUS GLUCOSE MONITOR (CGM)
- Compare and contrast CGM devices
- Recognize step-by-step details of how to put on a sensor for Freestyle Libre and Dexcom G6 devices
- Identify variables that impact glucose readings from CGM devices
LESSON 4 – INJECTION TECHNIQUES USING A SYRINGE OR PEN
- Describe the proper insulin drawing technique from a vial
- Recognize barriers to injection therapy
- Describe the proper use of the injectable pens
LESSON 5 – SICK DAY AND HYPOGLYCEMIA MANAGEMENT
- State recommendations for sick day management
- Identify elements of appropriate management of hypoglycemia
- Differentiate different ways to prevent hypoglycemia
LESSON 6 – FOOT TESTING AND PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY
- Discuss diabetes complications that affect legs and feet
- Recognize appropriate steps for performing a foot exam in a pharmacy
- Identify available over-the-counter (OTC) and prescribed products for the treatment of peripheral neuropathy
WHY YOU SHOULD CHOOSE FREE CE
Our unique approach to pharmacy education has made freeCE the industry standard and a favorite learning resource among pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.
- Live CE is available multiple times throughout the day, so you can easily complete your required live education programs at home and on your schedule.
- Convenient CE access and on-demand course options. Content is available on your phone, tablet, or computer, allowing you to earn CE wherever you are.
- Credly Badge – Show off your specialty! Use this awesome badge to show what specialties you have on social media. Collect all the Credly Badges with freeCE.
- Live, personal customer support is available via webchat.
GET STARTED
Enroll in the Hands-On Diabetes course today to gain one year of unlimited access to the course and begin your journey to provide your patients with the best diabetes management.
