Islanders with diabetes will have improved access to services, now that diabetes educators have received certification for basic level insulin adjustment, says Marilyn Barrett, Director of Primary Care Networks and Chronic Disease Prevention/ Management for Health PEI.
“Islanders have higher rates of chronic diseases, such as diabetes, than other parts of the country,” said Barrett. “The certification of our diabetes educators is a significant achievement in our efforts to enhance diabetes care and is an example of improvements we are making in primary care services across the province.”
The insulin adjustment certification permits the diabetes educator, in collaboration with the attending physician, to provide direction to clients on insulin dose adjustment. This allows the client to receive diabetes care, specifically insulin adjustment, in a timelier manner. A client who has recently been seen by an educator at one of the five program sites in the province can now follow up with that diabetes educator over the phone, email or in person. Once approval has been received by the family physician, the diabetes educator can also provide ongoing direction to clients, usually over a period of several weeks, on how to adjust their insulin doses.
For clients living with diabetes, this may reduce the need for repeat visits to their family physician’s office for insulin adjustment. In addition, the ongoing support to the client provided by the diabetes educator allows for individualized one-on-one counselling.
Six nurses and three dietitians employed with the Provincial Diabetes Program have recently received their certification for basic level, adult insulin adjustment. Several of the newly certified diabetes educators have also obtained certification in insulin adjustment for speciality populations including paediatrics, pregnancy and those who require insulin pump therapy.
The Provincial Diabetes Program provides leadership and expertise in diabetes through education and support to maintain or enhance the quality of life of persons affected by diabetes. This includes an individualized approach to identify treatment options (nutrition, medication, physical activity) to help reach good diabetes control.
“This formalized certification process and insulin adjustment guidelines provide more consistency and accessibility for our clients to the program,” said Dr. Lenley Adams, Medical Director for the Provincial Diabetes Program.
For more information on the Provincial Diabetes Program, please visit www.peidiabetes.pe.ca. For more information on other chronic disease management programs, please visit www.healthpei.ca.