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Hypoglycemia Resources for Healthcare Professionals

Insulin Pump Therapy

Hypoglycemia is recognized as an important public health issue, leading to increase mortality and hospital readmission rates. For people with diabetes, the threat and fear of hypoglycemia, whether spontaneous or therapy-associated, is one of the most significant barriers to glycemic management.

Our hypoglycemia resources include several practice documents, new resources that provide helpful advice to people living with diabetes, ADCES journal articles, advocacy issues related to seniors' access to the the supplies they need, and related AADE18 educational courses.   



hypoglycemia outcomes

DSMES Reduces Hypoglycemia Events

A new systematic review of evidence published in the August 2019 issue of The Diabetes Educator shows the impact of diabetes education in reducing hypoglycemia events and/or symptoms. The majority of studies within the review reported that diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) positively affected hypoglycemia outcomes such as the number of events and reported symptoms.

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Recognizing Hypoglycemia as a Public Health Issue

ADCES recognizes the impact of serious hypoglycemic events as an important public health issue, leading to increased mortality and readmission rates for Medicare beneficiaries as well as a large economic burden on the system as a whole.

Continuous Subcutaneous Insulin Infusion (CSII) Without and With Sensor Integration

According to the 2016 Hypoglycemia Quality Collaborative Strategic Blueprint, published by the Endocrine Society, people with diabetes and providers across the entire healthcare team lack the knowledge and tools to prevent and manage hypoglycemia – whether therapy-associated or spontaneous. Importantly, people with diabetes who experience the worst outcomes are often lower socioeconomic status minorities who lack access to the system and have lower health literacy.  

The HQC Strategic Blueprint is an actionable document and evergreen resource for diabetes stakeholders to identify and contextualize opportunities to work together to reduce the incidence of hypoglycemia. It contains six key domains that together create a comprehensive framework for reducing the incidence of hypoglycemia:

  • Defining and Describing Hypoglycemia to Support Standards of Care
  • Advancing Hypoglycemia Evidence to Reduce Gaps in Care
  • Measuring and Improving Quality of Care for Patients who Experience Hypoglycemia 
  • Advocating for Increased Focus on Hypoglycemia
  • Delivering Hypoglycemia Prevention and Management Education
  • Recognizing Hypoglycemia as a Public Health Issue
 
   
   

Continuous Subcutaneous Insulin Infusion (CSII) Without and With Sensor Integration

Additionally, ADCES joined other stakeholders to discuss and define clinically relevant outcomes beyond hemoglobin A1c in the Standardizing Clinically Meaningful Outcome Measures Beyond HbA1c for Type 1 Diabetes: A Consensus Report. This report provides a new evidence-based, consensus definition of hypoglycemia, including levels of hypoglycemia and their related glycemic criteria. Additionally, signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia at each level are discussed.  

Hypoglycemia Levels
   



ADCES was also represented by Mary Julius, LD, CDE, RDN of the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA at a key FDA event on mitigation of hypoglycemia, “Reducing the Risk of Preventable Adverse Drug Events associated with Hypoglycemia in the Older Population.”

A free, one-hour webinar by the FDA for healthcare providers based on the work of this group is now available: Leveraging Health Literacy and Patient Preferences to Reduce Hypoglycemic Events in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

Over the course of 2018, ADCES will be finalizing an integrative review on hypoglycemia and creating a new series of resources around this important topic to ensure its members, via grassroots advocacy programs in the State Coordinating Bodies (CBs), have the tools and resources they need to advocate that important hypoglycemia awareness and risk reduction issues are reflected in state-level Diabetes Action Plan legislation.

 

Featured Blog Post

Joanne Rinker​, ADCES' Director of Practice and Content Development, talks about ADCES' recent role in the hypoglycemia space: Supporting efforts at standardizing outcomes beyond AIC, creating a multi-organizational blueprint for preventing hypoglycemia and most currently identifying the impact diabetes care and education specialists have across the age spectrum and in all types of diabetes.  

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Joanne Rinker





Upcoming Educational Opportunities

Partnering to Identify Food Insecurity and Prevent Hypoglycemia

Recorded Webinar:

Partnering to Identify Food Insecurity and Prevent Hypoglycemia

Food insecurity is a social detriment that increases the risk of severe hypoglycemia. During this 90-minute webinar, the presenters will provide an in-depth review of the various strategies that will assist with risk mitigation, including identification of ICD-10 code z59.4 for food insecurity. They will review nutrition intervention such as budget friendly meals; social work intervention such as SNAP eligibility; and pharmacy intervention providing different medication regimens or Insulin-to-carbohydrate ratios on food insecure days.

Learn More





Resources for People With Diabetes

With the generous support of Lilly Diabetes, ADCES has been able to create hypoglycemia resources for diabetes care and education specialists to use in their practice. They include a brief video to house on your program website, within your waiting room or even show in your education sessions, and take-home materials for patients that cover hypoglycemia causes, prevention, symptoms and treatment. 

What to Do When You Experience Hypoglycemia




managing low blood sugar

Managing Low Blood Sugar

Everyone who takes insulin for type 1 or type 2 diabetes is at risk for low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). You may also be at risk for low blood sugar if you take certain other diabetes medicines. Learn the symptoms of low blood sugar, how to treat it, and what to do in an emergency.

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ADCES Journal Articles 

The Diabetes Educator

Severe Hypoglycemia and the Role of the Significant Other: Expert, Sentry, and Protector
Vol. 41, 6: pp. 698-705. First Published September 17, 2015
Jennie King, RN, BA(Hons), PhD, Jane Overland, RN, MPH, PhD, Murray Fisher, RN, DipAppSc(Nursing), BHSc(Nursing), MHPEd, PhD, Kate White, RN, MN, PhD

Complementary Approaches to Improving Glucose Control—Insulin and Incretins: Patient Case Studies in Action
Vol. 40, 1_suppl: pp. 4S-26S. First Published May 19, 2014
Jerry D. Meece, RPH, FACA, CDE, FAADE, Teresa L. Pearson, MS, RN, CDE, FAADE, Linda M. Siminerio,RN, PhD, CDE, FAAN

The Impact of Nocturnal Hypoglycemia on Clinical and Cost-Related Issues in Patients with Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes
Vol. 40, 3: pp. 269-279. First Published April 2, 2014
Steven V. Edelman, MD, Jamie S. Blose, PharmD, MBA

Self-Monitoring of Blood Glucose Is Associated With Problem-Solving Skills in Hyperglycemia and Hypoglycemia
Vol. 38, 2: pp. 207-218. First Published March 26, 2012
Jing Wang, PhD, MPH, RN, Janice Zgibor, PhD, Judith T. Matthews, PhD, MPH, RN, Denise Charron-Prochownik, PhD, CPNP, FAAN, Susan M. Sereika, PhD, Linda Siminerio, PhD, RN, CDE

The Diabetes Educator Journal

 

ADCES in Practice

How to Incorporate Mindful Eating in Diabetes Care
Megrette Fletcher, MED, RD, CDE
First Published October 23, 2017

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Glucagon Kits: Are Your Patients Prepared for a Hypoglycemic Emergency?
Ellen Cobb, BSN, RN, CDE, Nina Watson, MSN, RN, CDE, Jana Wardian, PhD, MSW, Connie Morrow,MAEd-AET, CRT, Tom Sauerwein, MD
First Published December 28, 2016

Hypoglycemia Awareness Training
Jerry Meece, RPh, CDE, FACA, FAADE
First Published April 18, 2014

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