diabetes and ESRD management handbook

Specialties NP

Published

Hi,

I am a new FNP. I have a large number of patients with diabetes and am looking for a good resource to help me manage/titrate oral antihypoglycemics as well as learning how to start/titrate insulin.

Also does anyone have any good resources on how to manage ESRD patients on dialysis (best practices for managing hypertension, access infections, etc.)? I have already bought and read Handbook of Dialysis and read the KDOQI guidelines but am still yearning for more information.

Thank you for any advice!

Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Are you doing rounding on dialysis patients?

I would suggest joining the American Nephrology Nurses Association. They have a very good list-serve for APNs that do dialysis rounding.

When I took my job 6 years ago, I didn't have a clue about anything - lol.

My other co-workers: NPs and PAs were extremely helpful. Plus, I got a 5 month orientation which is something I'm forever grateful for.

For prescribing, I use Skyscape's Dosing for Renal Failure (small database but many of the BP meds we use).

I also use UpToDate - its expensive ($475/year) but again, my practice buys it for all of us. Are you using an electronic medical record? That helps a lot for Meaningful Use, plus e-prescribing is so easy.

I round in four Fresenius units but am employed by the nephrology practice.

What part of the country are you in? I'm in central IL.

There is a little blue Yale book on diabetes management that is just about everything you'd ever want to know. I think I got mine from one of the drug reps - maybe Takeda.

It covers all the meds, initiating insulin therapy, etc. Also the AACE (American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists) website is a wonderful source of information on diabetes (and lots of other stuff) and gives the latest guidelines for treatment.

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