HAPPY BLACK HISTORY MONTH!!! This month’s focus is on how we as providers can better engage those in the black community with diabetes!
All in Diabetes Management
Diabetes & Technology
Diabetes Technology is swiftly becoming accessible to all. Now is the time for prescribing providers such as nurse practitioners to lean into it.
What Is Diabetic Autonomic Neuropathy
Diabetes-associated cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (CAN) damages autonomic nerve fibers that innervate the heart and blood vessels, in turn causing abnormalities in heart rate and vascular dynamics. It is one of the most overlooked but serious conditions of Diabetes Mellitus and causes an increased risk for cardiac dysfunction & mortality.
The Holidays & The Diabetic...Mapping Out A Great Holiday With M.A.A.P.S.
The Holidays and the diabetic…let’s talk about! The holidays are upon us and we need to prepare our diabetic patients for them. I thought that it would be nice to put together a series discussing this and I came up with an acronym, M.A.A.P.S….helping our patients map out a GREAT holiday!
Prescribing the Right Diabetes Medications
When it comes to diabetes medication, how do nurse practitioners decide what medication would be appropriate for their patient? Now clearly we know that metformin is the first line medication but what do you do when metformin just doesn't cut it? In the post, I am discussing the nurse practitioner’s mindset and what we should consider when prescribing medications for diabetes.
Insulin Resistance
Let’s dive into INSULIN RESISTANCE! Insulin Resistance is the prominent problem in many diabetics. We actually start to see it in prediabetes and knowing that prediabetes is reversible, you guessed it…so is insulin resistance! In today’s post, we are going to explore what it is, what causes it, and how it can be prevented and treated. Let’s get into it…
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Hey Y’all! Let’s talk POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME (PCOS)! At first glance, you may be thinking, “What does PCOS have to do with DIABETES & PREDIABETES?” Well, I wanted to briefly discuss PCOS as it relates to a person’s risk for diabetes.
PREDIABETES
PREDIABETES…Let’s talk about!!! You can’t discuss diabetes without discussing it. According to the CDC, one third of American adults are categorized as “prediabetic.” That’s 88 million people! The sad part about it is that a large amount of people do not even know that they have prediabetes. So I felt it was only necessary for me to spend some time over the next few post discussing prediabetes.
Med Check: GLP-1 Receptor Agonists (Victoza, Trulicity, Byetta)
When I first started my YouTube channel, Kim E. The Diabetes NP, my first set of videos were over medications used to treat diabetes. I went through each class (there are 12 currently) and discussed the “Need to Know” Info for each. Here recently, I have been studying out medications again and wanted to revisit medications from time to time. One medication I would like to discuss today is a injectable drug class, GLP-1 Receptor Agonists (victoza, byetta, trulicity…just to name a few).
The NP Diabetes Starter Pack
A FREE bundle of the printable cheat sheets for the Nurse Practitioner. These cheat sheets cover the “Need to Know” info pertinent for Diabetes Education & Management.
Emotional Awareness During Eating
Hey guys! I wanted to pop in to discuss a way that can assist in the patient’s emotional awareness during eating. One component you can add to your Dietary Food Recall is the location of where they are eating and their feelings at the moment of eating. Let me explain…
Why I prefer a 3-day Food Recall
Hey guys! Yesterday, I posted about a thorough Food Recall and I wanted to pop in today and answer a common question: How long should I do the Food Recall? Personal, I prefer a 3-day Food Recall.
Dietary Recall for Diabetic Patients
So let’s talk about a good FOOD RECALL for diabetic patients! In all honesty, performing a food recall is beneficial for any patient but it can be extremely insightful for you and your patients with diabetes. The purpose of it is to get an accurate daily dietary intake. This especially important because we see clearly what the issue for the patient is. Is it that they binge eat? Is it that they make unhealthy choices when they are hungry? The food recall can tell this plus more and can assist us with tailoring our education for the patient.
How to Prevent Diabetes Mellitus
It goes without saying that most people want to PREVENT diabetes at all cost. So you can imagine how many conversations I have over this very topic. People have seen family members and loved ones suffer with this chronic disease and they just don’t want to be fooled with it. Diabetes has this black cloud over it, something like a death sentence to some. People automatically think that they will be put on insulin shots or have amputated limbs and because of this a good portion of diabetes education is spent debunking misconceptions. Now clearly, untreated, diabetes can and will wreck havoc on one’s life but that doesn’t have to be the case. So I thought it would be great to give some talking points over ways one could prevent diabetes.
Medical Nutrition Therapy for Diabetes
According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), Medical nutrition therapy (MNT) is a key component of diabetes education and management. MNT is defined as a “nutrition-based treatment provided by a registered dietitian nutritionist.” It includes “a nutrition diagnosis as well as therapeutic and counseling services to help manage diabetes.”
What Diet is BEST for Diabetes?
Yesterday, I posted an overview over the Food Guidelines for Diabetes by AACE. Today I would like to answer a question that, as providers, we get often: “What’s the BEST diet for Diabetes?”
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Food Guidelines for Diabetes
How many times have you been asked by patients: “How should I eat as a diabetic?” or “What’s the best diet for diabetes?” or “What kinds of food can I eat?” For me…countless times but have you noticed when it comes to dietary counseling for diabetes, it’s a broad spectrum. It’s kind of all over the place. With all of the fad and designer diets, no wonder our patients are confused.
Diabetes Complications: What is Peripheral Artery Disease???
Diabetes Complications: What is Peripheral Artery Disease??? Well, I dive into it in this video! I also discuss the diagnosis and treatment of the diabetic complication, peripheral artery disease and what we as the providers should be looking for.
The Components Of A Clinical Foot Exam
I previously posted about the Diabetic Foot Examination and discussed an overview of what nurse practitioners should keep in mind with assessing the diabetic’s feet. Today, I would like to dive more in detail over the individual components of the exam.
Diabetic Foot Examination | Nurse Practitioners
Today let’s talk about the diabetic foot exam. As NURSE PRACTITIONERS, we need to make it a habit to check our patients' feet when they come into the office. Not only do we need to access their feet but we also need to educate our patients over proper diabetic foot care so they will be empowered at home to care for their feet. Some may think that this is excessive but, this is a simple way to prevent any complications and decrease the advancement of any diabetic complications that already exist.