diabetes and ESRD management handbook

[celle507]

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!

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

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.

[mammac5]

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.