A diabetes nurse educator (DNE) is a nursing sister with specialized training in diabetes. Our DNEs are health care professionals who are expressly certified to teach you how to manage the condition of diabetes. They can manage patients with both Type I and Type II diabetes, as well as women with gestational diabetes. They teach patients the causes, pathophysiology, and signs and symptoms of diabetes as well as hypo and hyperglycemia.
Patients need to understand these concepts to remain compliant with treatment and follow up. For example, many lay people don’t realize that diabetes can affect multiple organ systems. Patients need to learn how to assess their extremities, especially the feet, for wounds, lacerations, and ulcers as diabetes can affect healing. They need to get routine eye exams to check for retinopathy.
Diabetes nurse educators must also reach patients about the importance of diet and nutrition. Patients must learn to count carbohydrates and read food labels. They also need to learn to log their blood sugars and food to find out how they respond to the foods they choose. Logging blood sugars and diet also helps diabetes nurses and physicians change medications or treatments to ensure their blood glucose remains within a desirable range.
Patients must also learn about medications used for diabetes, whether it’s oral or injectable medications. They must learn time frames in which the peak effect of the medication takes place, and what signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia are and how to avoid “bottoming out.” Insulin-dependent diabetics especially need close monitoring-they must learn about the different types of insulins along with their onset of action. Diabetes nurse educators also help monitor and track patients’ labs to ensure their blood glucose is managed.
Periodic Hemoglobin A1C checks are needed depending on the physician. Diabetes nurses can educate patients on what the test is, and why they need it done. Another unique advantage diabetes nurse educators have is that they can assess patients’ ability and readiness to learn. If a patient is having difficulty understanding the concepts surrounding diabetes, the nurse can recruit the help of a family member or friend to assist in the management of the patient’s diabetes. The nurse can also report any concerns, barriers, or treatment complications/ failures to the physician, implement a new treatment, and evaluate the patient’s response.
When you reach out to us for help, a dedicated DNE will take the time to understand your particular circumstances and will decide with you (and the medical doctor if necessary) what the next steps are to best address your condition. To this end, the DNE integrates with all our other professionals (medical doctors, dieticians, foot care specialists, etc) to design a unique treatment programme to treat and control your diabetes. This is done from both a medical and lifestyle perspective. Your DNE will then give you the educational and emotional support you need to follow through on your specific treatment programme.
