Any Certified Diabetic Nurse Educators out there?

oldiebutgoodie, RN · Aug 1, 2007

Here's my 2 cents worth:

I work on a BUSY med-surg floor. Often the MD will write "Diabetic teaching" as an order, and we nurses are expected to do it.

I obviously know the basics, in terms of inpatient care, how to draw up insulin, etc., but as you state, there is a whole body of knowledge regarding diabetic teaching which I am not up on.

We have 2 diabetic educators, (for the whole hospital) but up until now they seemed to only work outpatient. I think finally someone has gotten it into their head that they need to be on the floors as well.

The answer is more diabetic educators, more hospitals willing to hire nurses and help them become certified diabetic educators, and more training of floor nurses on how to educate. (A nice short booklet to give patient with the basics might be nice).

I'm sure other hospitals have better programs in place, but that's why you may hear nurses not giving updated info...

Oldiebutgoodie

llg, PhD, RN · Aug 1, 2007

I am not a diabetes educator, but was diagnosed last year with mild Type II. In other words, my regular lab work for my hypertension and high cholesterol drugs picked it up before it became too bad. Technically, I was just "pre-diabetes," but my doctor and I agree that is an arbitrary distinction. I have diabetes -- it's just mild because it was caught in the early stages.

Anyway ... being middle-aged, I have a few friends who have been diagnosed with Type II over the last couple of years. They went to the classes, etc. offered in our community and I was not satisfied with what I saw they had been taught. So I didn't even bother going to the classes. I figured I would be arguing with the teachers too much.

With my doctor's approval, I went on a low-carb diet, started exercising regularly. and check my blood glucose a couple of times a day to keep my BG low. In the past 9 months, I have lost 40 pounds and my HA1C is 5.8 with no medication. My doctor and I both think I am on the right track. I have started adding back a few carbs (e.g. whole grain things) and we will continue to monitor regularly.

My father was a physician and he also developed Type II diabetes when he was in his 50's. He was able to stay off meds with diet alone for several years -- but eventually went on oral medication in his mid-60's. I know I may need meds eventually, too -- and I fully understand that my diabetes was caught so early that it is easier for me to control than it is for most people. However, I truly believe that if I were eating according to what is being taught in the classes offered in my community, I would need meds (like my friends do).

woody62, RN · Aug 1, 2007

I am not a diabetes educator, but was diagnosed last year with mild Type II. In other words, my regular lab work for my hypertension and high cholesterol drugs picked it up before it became too bad. Technically, I was just "pre-diabetes," but my doctor and I agree that is an arbitrary distinction. I have diabetes -- it's just mild because it was caught in the early stages.
Anyway ... being middle-aged, I have a few friends who have been diagnosed with Type II over the last couple of years. They went to the classes, etc. offered in our community and I was not satisfied with what I saw they had been taught. So I didn't even bother going to the classes. I figured I would be arguing with the teachers too much.
With my doctor's approval, I went on a low-carb diet, started exercising regularly. and check my blood glucose a couple of times a day to keep my BG low. In the past 9 months, I have lost 40 pounds and my HA1C is 5.8 with no medication. My doctor and I both think I am on the right track. I have started adding back a few carbs (e.g. whole grain things) and we will continue to monitor regularly.
My father was a physician and he also developed Type II diabetes when he was in his 50's. He was able to stay off meds with diet alone for several years -- but eventually went on oral medication in his mid-60's. I know I may need meds eventually, too -- and I fully understand that my diabetes was caught so early that it is easier for me to control than it is for most people. However, I truly believe that if I were eating according to what is being taught in the classes offered in my community, I would need meds (like my friends do).

What do you mean by your statement 'low carbohydrate diet?' I eat approximately 70 gms of carbohydrates a day and have been told that I am on a low carbohydrate diet. To me, low carb means eating approximately 32 gms of carbs a day. I've been a diabetic for 17 years and have gone from being able to manage it with diet alone to my presently needing NPH twice a day, as well as metformin twice a day.

I have gone to the classes, as well as the support groups. The one's I've gone to, portions are stressed along with trimming your carbohydrates. Daily carbohydrate intake varies from an average of 50 gms to over 100 gms., depending on the individual.

I was assigned a 'certified diabetic nurse educator over a year ago by Medicare. She is worth about as much as a tooth brush without bristles. I have sent her my telephone number several times and have yet to hear from her. I consider her a waste of my time and the tax payers money.

Woody:balloons: