what can you educate your patient with diabetes on to help prevent complications

Understand how to use diabetes devices, such as blood glucose meters, insulin pens, insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors Adopt healthy eating habits through nutrition education, including meal-planning, weight-loss strategies and other disease-specific nutrition counseling

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How can you help your patients understand how to manage diabetes?

Using the following strategies can also help your patients understand how to manage diabetes—or any other chronic disease. Convey two or three key messages that you want your patient to remember. Focus on what the patient needs to know and needs to do, as opposed to spending too much time on what the health condition is.

How can education and support help people with diabetes?

Education and Support. Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) services help people with diabetes learn how to take the best care of themselves. Ask your doctor for a referral to DSMES services to help you manage your diabetes.

How to avoid complications of diabetes care?

Diabetes care: 10 ways to avoid complications 1 Make a commitment to managing your diabetes. 2 Don't smoke... 3 Keep your blood pressure and cholesterol under control. 4 Schedule regular physicals and eye exams. 5 Keep your vaccines up to date...

What's next for a diabetes educator?

What's Next? While you manage your patients’ care, diabetes educators can empower them to manage their diabetes. They teach, coach and guide patients so they understand their diabetes and how it affects their personal lives, and work with them to set (and meet) behavior change goals to improve their health.

How do you educate a patient with diabetes mellitus?

Living With Diabetes.Eat Well. Living With DiabetesEat Well.Manage Blood Sugar. Living With DiabetesManage Blood Sugar.Prevent Diabetes Complications. Living With DiabetesPrevent Diabetes Complications. Nerve Damage. ... Your Diabetes Care Schedule. Living With DiabetesYour Diabetes Care Schedule.

What is the most important step to prevent complications from diabetes?

Following a healthy eating plan. To do that, your diet should include smaller portions and less fat and sugar. You should also eat a variety of foods from each food group, including plenty of whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. It's also a good idea to limit red meat, and avoid processed meats.

What should diabetes education include?

Topics include:Understanding diabetes and diabetes treatment.Healthy eating.Being physically active.Taking medicine.Checking your blood sugar.Reducing your risk for other health problems.Learning to cope with stress, depression, and other concerns.

Why is education important for diabetes?

Diabetes self-management training and education plays a vital role in the management of diabetes (1). It is crucial for diabetic patients to be aware of nature, treatment, risk factors and complication of disease due to providing suitable modality to attenuate following complications.

What are nursing interventions for diabetes?

Nursing InterventionsEducate about home glucose monitoring. ... Review factors in glucose instability. ... Encourage client to read labels. ... Discuss how client's antidiabetic medications work. ... Check viability of insulin. ... Review type of insulin used. ... Check injection sites periodically.

How can long term complications of diabetes be prevented?

The good news is that you can reduce the risk of the long-term effects of diabetes by keeping blood pressure, blood glucose and cholesterol levels within recommended range. Also, being a healthy weight, eating healthily, reducing alcohol intake, and not smoking will help reduce your risk.

When do you refer to diabetes education?

According to the paper, people with diabetes should be referred for DSMES, which may be delivered by a Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE) or healthcare provider working with the CDE, at four key stages: diagnosis, annual assessments, when new complicating factors arise (e.g., new health conditions, the onset of a ...

What does patient education include?

Patient education can be defined as the process of influencing patient behavior and producing the changes in knowledge, attitudes and skills necessary to maintain or improve health.

What do you teach a newly diagnosed diabetic?

Eat healthyEat a variety of foods, including vegetables, whole grains, fruits, non-fat dairy foods, healthy fats, and lean meats or meat substitutes.Try not to eat too much food.Try not to eat too much of one type of food.Space your meals evenly throughout the day.Avoid skipping meals.

How can we help people with diabetes?

How to Support Someone with DiabetesKnow what diabetes is and how it's treated. ... Be open to the kind of help they want and don't judge. ... Look out for the symptoms of low blood sugar. ... Serve a variety of foods. ... Be a workout buddy. ... Offer mental and emotional support.

What is diabetes self management education and support?

Diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) provides an evidence-based foundation to empower people with diabetes to navigate self-management decisions and activities. 1. DSMES is a cost-effective tool proven to help improve health behaviors and health outcomes for people with diabetes.

What are the complications of diabetes?

Common diabetes health complications include heart disease, chronic kidney disease, nerve damage, and other problems with feet, oral health, vision, hearing, and mental health. Learn how to prevent or delay these diabetes complications and how to improve overall health.

What should we do to prevent diabetes?

Here are 11 ways to lower your risk of getting diabetes.Reduce your total carb intake. ... Exercise regularly. ... Drink water as your primary beverage. ... Try to lose excess weight. ... Quit smoking. ... Reduce your portion sizes. ... Cut back on sedentary behaviors. ... Follow a high fiber diet.More items...•

What is the best way to manage diabetes?

What to do:Talk to your doctor about an exercise plan. Ask your doctor about what type of exercise is appropriate for you. ... Keep an exercise schedule. ... Know your numbers. ... Check your blood sugar level. ... Stay hydrated. ... Be prepared. ... Adjust your diabetes treatment plan as needed.

What is the prevention of diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes is largely preventable by taking several simple steps: keeping weight under control, exercising more, eating a healthy diet, and not smoking.

What are the complications of diabetes?

Common diabetes health complications include heart disease, chronic kidney disease, nerve damage, and other problems with feet, oral health, vision, hearing, and mental health. Learn how to prevent or delay these diabetes complications and how to improve overall health.

Make A Commitment to Managing Your Diabetes

Members of your diabetes care team — doctor or primary care provider, diabetes nurse educator, and dietitian, for example — can help you learn the...

Keep Your Blood Pressure and Cholesterol Under Control

Like diabetes, high blood pressure can damage your blood vessels. High cholesterol is a concern, too, since the damage is often worse and more rapi...

Schedule Regular Physicals and Eye Exams

Schedule two to four diabetes checkups a year, in addition to your yearly physical and routine eye exams.During the physical, your doctor will ask...

Keep Your Vaccines Up to Date

Diabetes makes it more likely you'll get certain illnesses. Routine vaccines can help prevent them. Ask your doctor about: 1. Flu vaccine. A yearly...

Pay Attention to Your Feet

High blood sugar can reduce blood flow and damage the nerves in your feet. Left untreated, cuts and blisters can lead to serious infections. Diabet...

If You Drink Alcohol, Do So Responsibly

Alcohol can cause high or low blood sugar, depending on how much you drink and whether you eat at the same time. If you choose to drink, do so only...

What is diabetes?from medlineplus.gov

A hormone called insulin helps the glucose get into your cells to give them energy. With type 1 diabetes, your body does not make insulin. With type 2 diabetes, your body does not make or use insulin well. Without enough insulin, the glucose stays in your blood.

What health problems can diabetes cause?from medlineplus.gov

Over time, having too much glucose in your blood can cause complications, including:

What is the A1C test?from webmd.com

Most diabetes complications are linked to blood sugar levels that are too high or too low. An A1c blood test is a key way to check that your blood sugar levels aren't out of whack.

What is the reading for diabetic neuropathy?from webmd.com

Your reading should be less than 130/80. Diabetic Neuropathy (Nerve Damage) Over time, diabetes can cause nerve damage that produces symptoms of numbness, burning, or pain in your hands, feet, or legs. If your skin becomes numb, you may not notice small wounds that could grow to become bigger health threats.

What happens when you don't get enough glucose?from webmd.com

When your cells don't get enough glucose, they start to burn fat for energy, which makes things called ketones. High ketone levels signal that your diabetes is out of control or that you're getting sick. This can lead to diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a dangerous complication.

Why do you need to have a urine test yearly?from webmd.com

If you have diabetes, urine testing should be performed yearly to look for diabetic nephropathy -- kidney disease. A baseline creatinine blood test should also be done to determine your kidney function. You may need to be tested more often if you're likely to get kidney disease because of high blood pressure, heart disease, or a family history of kidney failure.

What happens if you don't feel your feet?from webmd.com

If you don't feel it, you may have nerve damage. If you're diagnosed with peripheral diabetic neuropathy, you'll need thorough foot exams at every doctor's visit. Diabetic Retinopathy (Eye Damage) To protect your vision, all people with diabetes should see an ophthalmologist (an eye doctor) at least yearly.

How to reduce risk of heart attack and stroke?

Consider a daily aspirin. If you have diabetes and other cardiovascular risk factors, such as smoking or high blood pressure, your doctor may recommend taking a low dose of aspirin every day to help reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke.

How to take care of diabetes?

Careful diabetes care can reduce your risk of serious — even life-threatening — complications. Here are 10 ways to take an active role in diabetes care and enjoy a healthier future. 1. Make a commitment to managing your diabetes. Members of your diabetes care team — doctor or primary care provider, diabetes nurse educator, and dietitian, ...

What are the risks of diabetes?

2. Don't smoke. Smoking increases your risk of type 2 diabetes and the risk of various diabetes complications, including: Reduced blood flow in the legs and feet, which can lead to infections, ulcers and possible removal of a body part by surgery (amputation) Heart disease. Stroke.

How to prevent gum infection from diabetes?

Diabetes may leave you prone to gum infections. Brush your teeth at least twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste, floss your teeth once a day and schedule dental exams at least twice a year . Call your dentist if your gums bleed or look red or swollen. 7.

How to control high blood pressure?

Eating a healthy, reduced-fat diet and exercising regularly can go a long way toward controlling high blood pressure and cholesterol. Your doctor may also recommend taking prescription medication, if necessary.

What to check for on your feet?

Check your feet daily for calluses, blisters, sores, redness or swelling.

How to control blood sugar levels?

Make healthy eating and physical activity part of your daily routine. Maintain a healthy weight. Monitor your blood sugar, and follow your doctor's instructions for managing your blood sugar level. Take your medications as directed by your doctor.

Who is my health care team?

Your health care team includes diabetes educators—such as, doctors, nurses, dieticians, pharmacists, and other health can providers—who have special training and experience. Your health care team will help you learn how to take care of yourself and manage your diabetes.

What is DSMES in diabetes?

Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DS MES) services help people with diabetes learn how to take the best care of themselves. Ask your doctor for a referral to DSMES services to help you manage your diabetes.

What is DSMES in health care?

DSMES services include a health care team who will teach you how to stay healthy and how to make what you learn a regular part of your life. DSMES services will help you: Make better decisions about your diabetes. Work with your health care team to get the support you need. Eat healthy.

Why is it important to manage diabetes?

Managing your diabetes will help you avoid or delay serious health complications. The skills you learn will help you take better care of yourself. Diabetes management starts with you. It’s important to go for DSMES services when you first find out you have diabetes so you can learn how to take care of yourself.

How many hours of diabetes education do you need for Medicare?

Most insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid, cover up to 10 hours of diabetes education the first year of diagnosis. After the first year, your coverage may be different. Contact your insurance provider for more information.

What are some examples of life changes that can affect diabetes?

Examples include diagnosis of a new health condition, a change in your mobility, depression, or money problems. When other life changes occur that affect the way you take care of yourself. Major life changes can affect your diabetes.

How does DSMES help with diabetes?

DSMES can give you the information and support to start managing your diabetes. During yearly follow-up visits with your doctor. Check on your progress and get help to prevent complications. When new situations affect the way you take care of yourself. New events or conditions in your life can affect your diabetes.

Why does blood sugar rise?

Stress can cause blood sugars to rise by stimulating counter-regulatory hormones such as cortisol which increase insulin resistance. 21 Diabetes can be stressful on its own; if you have added stressors, anxiety, or depression, it can make it hard to manage your diabetes, which can also cause blood sugars to rise.

What is diabetes in the body?

Diabetes is a disease where the body does not metabolize glucose (sugar) properly. There are many different types of diabetes. How they are treated will depend on various factors, including the type, the age of onset, blood glucose control at diagnosis, and behavioral and lifestyle factors.

Why is it important to know your blood glucose and blood pressure?

Knowing your blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels can be an effective way to prevent complications of diabetes that are related to your heart, eyes, nerves, and kidneys. Your hemoglobin A1C (a three-month average of blood sugar), blood pressure, and cholesterol are important numbers that you should understand.

What is the term for blood glucose levels that have been elevated for an extended period of time?

Nephropathy (or kidney damage) can occur when blood glucose levels have been elevated for an extended period. People with diabetes who develop kidney disease may have a genetic predisposition to kidney disease and blood pressure issues. 3

How does diabetes self management help?

13 It does this by reducing or eliminating medications and emergency room visits, and helping people access cost-saving programs .

What are the complications of diabetes?

The complications of diabetes fall into two categories: 1 Microvascular complications: Complications of the small vessels 2 Macrovascular complications: Complications of the large vessels

How does keeping your blood sugars healthy help you?

Keeping your blood sugars at a healthy range will help to prevent or delay complications of diabetes. In some instances, getting control of your blood sugar can reverse certain complications. The key is getting into a routine that works for you and finding your support.

How to help people with diabetes?

Diabetes care and education specialists help people with diabetes: 1 Learn basic information about diabetes and its management 2 Understand how to use diabetes devices, such as blood glucose meters, insulin pens, insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors 3 Adopt healthy eating habits through nutrition education, including meal-planning, weight-loss strategies and other disease-specific nutrition counseling 4 Develop problem-solving strategies and skills to self-manage diabetes 5 Monitor blood glucose and learn how to interpret and appropriately respond to the results 6 Understand how their medications work, including their action, side effects, efficacy, toxicity, prescribed dosage and more 7 Develop skills for handling stressful situations

What is diabetes educator?

While you manage your patients’ care, diabetes educators can empower them to manage their diabetes. They teach, coach and guide patients so they understand their diabetes and how it affects their personal lives, and work with them to set (and meet) behavior change goals to improve their health. Diabetes care and education specialists are licensed ...

How to manage diabetes?

Develop problem-solving strategies and skills to self-manage diabetes. Monitor blood glucose and learn how to interpret and appropriately respond to the results. Understand how their medications work, including their action, side effects, efficacy, toxicity, prescribed dosage and more. Develop skills for handling stressful situations.

What is the role of a diabetes educator?

Beyond treating diabetic patients in a doctor’s office or hospital, nurses can take on the specialized role of diabetes educator. These educators teach people with diabetes to understand and manage the following: How to change health habits, including making supportive food choices, exercising and quitting smoking, if applicable.

What is the role of a nurse in diabetes care?

While doctors may create a diabetic care plan, it usually falls to nurses to provide care and to educate patients about managing diabetes. Diabetes is a complex disease that requires nurses to stay up-to-date on the latest approaches to managing the condition.

What are the priorities of a nurse?

Nurses working with diabetic patients have five priorities, according to Nurselabs.com: Restore the balance of fluids, electrolytes and the acid-base balance. Correct/reverse abnormal metabolic functions. Help manage the underlying cause of diabetes and the disease process.

Why is it important to have a nurse in the doctor's office?

Nurses can also provide diabetic wound care. This care is important because diabetes slows the healing of wounds, especially on the feet. In the hospital, nurses can look for signs that an undiagnosed person might have ...

What do nurses look for in diabetic patients?

In the hospital, nurses can look for signs that an undiagnosed person might have diabetes. Nurses know that diabetic patients are at higher risk for problems such as infections, disturbed sensory perception and nutritional imbalances. Nurses can identify these problems early and provide the needed care. Nurses working with diabetic patients have ...

What is advanced degree in diabetes?

Advanced practice registered nurses (nurse practitioners or clinical nurse specialists) can diagnose and prescribe medication and take on the added responsibilities of advanced diabetes management. They have the option of becoming board certified in Advanced Diabetes Management through the American Association of Diabetes Educators.

What is the purpose of the article on this website?

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How does literacy affect health?

Health literacy is closely linked with social determinants of health, which eventually affect health outcomes and drive health inequities. Even if patients are fully informed about the behaviors needed to manage diabetes, they may not be able to keep up with those behaviors due to social determinants of health—such as living in an environment where access to affordable, healthier food and beverage options are limited.

Why is health literacy important?

Health literacy is important for people with diabetes because managing diabetes is complex. People with diabetes have to understand basic physiology, as well as the concept that behavior—taking medicines, self-monitoring blood glucose, maintaining a healthy diet, and being physically active—has an impact on blood glucose levels.

How does social determinants affect health literacy?

Social determinants of health also affect how health literacy is formed. Health literacy isn’t a trait; it’s a set of skills that develop over time. If you have access to health care from an early age, go with your parents or caregiver to annual wellness visits, and hear conversations between your parents or caregiver and doctors, you may have a better understanding of health information. These conversations might help develop health literacy skills.

What is health literacy?

A: Health literacy is defined as the degree to which people are able to find, understand, and use information and services to inform their health-related decisions and actions for themselves, as well as others. Health literacy involves many different skillsets. The three essential skillsets are reading, communicating verbally, and understanding numbers.

What does "limited health literacy" mean?

A: Limited health literacy means failing to understand most health information, such as a prescription medicine label or an immunization schedule.

How much of the cost of health care is attributed to limited health literacy?

According to some estimates, limited health literacy accounts for 3% to 5% of total health care costs.

How does structural racism affect health care?

Structural racism may lead to mistrust, which undermines patient-doctor communication and relationships , and may prevent people with chronic health conditions from seeing their doctors regularly.

What is Diabetes?from dtc.ucsf.edu

Find out about diabetes: the terminology, symptoms, diagnosis and goals of treatment. Learn how the body keeps the blood sugar in balance.

Who is my health care team?from cdc.gov

Your health care team includes diabetes educators—such as, doctors, nurses, dieticians, pharmacists, and other health can providers—who have special training and experience. Your health care team will help you learn how to take care of yourself and manage your diabetes.

Why is diabetes self care important?from niddk.nih.gov

A: It’s important because over 90 percent of diabetes care is self-care; provided by the person with diabetes. Diabetes self-management education and support enables people to be the best self-managers possible.

What is the purpose of the Type 1 Diabetes Self Care Manual?from diabetes.org

It covers everything, from blood sugar goals to complications and special considerations by age.

How does clinical systems management help Medicare?from niddk.nih.gov

Clinical systems management can help by providing automatic referrals at the four critical time points. There are still barriers that we're working through with Medicare. For example, you can't receive nutrition therapy and diabetes education at the same time.

What are the different types of diabetes?from dtc.ucsf.edu

Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) disease that affects how your body turns food into energy. There are three main types of diabetes: type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes (diabetes while pregnant).

How to control blood sugar if you are type 1?from diabetes.org

Calling all types: eat well and move. No matter if you live with type 1 or type 2, diet and exercise are two of the most powerful tools you have. Not only do they help you control your blood sugar, but they can mean the difference between feeling run down and feeling great.