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CE Diabetes Management

The course teaches nurses the classification, pathophysiology, and evidence‑based treatment of diabetes, including insulin, oral agents, monitoring, and acute complication management, enabling safe, effective care across all clinical settings.

Who Should Take This

Registered nurses who regularly manage patients with diabetes in inpatient, outpatient, primary care, or specialty clinics are ideal participants. They should have foundational nursing experience and seek to update their knowledge of therapeutic protocols, monitoring technologies, and acute complication response to improve patient outcomes.

What's Included in AccelaStudy® AI

Adaptive Knowledge Graph
Practice Questions
Lesson Modules
Console Simulator Labs
Exam Tips & Strategy
20 Activity Formats

Course Outline

65 learning goals
1 Diabetes Classification and Pathophysiology
1 topic

Type 1 and Type 2 differentiation

  • Identify the classification of diabetes mellitus including Type 1, Type 2, gestational diabetes, and secondary causes with their distinguishing pathophysiologic features.
  • Explain the autoimmune pathophysiology of Type 1 diabetes including beta cell destruction, absolute insulin deficiency, and clinical onset characteristics.
  • Describe the pathophysiology of Type 2 diabetes including insulin resistance, progressive beta cell dysfunction, hepatic glucose production, and metabolic syndrome components.
  • Explain diagnostic criteria for diabetes including fasting glucose, oral glucose tolerance test, random glucose with symptoms, and HbA1c thresholds for diagnosis.
  • Analyze patient presentations to differentiate Type 1 from Type 2 diabetes and identify atypical presentations including LADA and MODY requiring further evaluation.
2 Insulin Therapy
2 topics

Insulin types and regimens

  • Identify insulin types including rapid-acting, short-acting, intermediate, long-acting, and ultra-long-acting with their onset, peak, and duration profiles.
  • Explain basal-bolus insulin regimens including physiologic insulin replacement principles, basal rate determination, and mealtime correction dose calculations.
  • Describe insulin pump therapy including basal rate programming, bolus calculation, site selection, infusion set changes, and troubleshooting pump malfunctions.
  • Explain insulin storage requirements, injection technique, site rotation principles, lipodystrophy prevention, and proper needle disposal procedures.
  • Identify insulin pen device types including disposable and reusable pens, needle attachment, priming procedure, and dose dialing with patient education techniques.

Insulin dose adjustment

  • Describe sliding scale versus scheduled insulin approaches and explain why basal-bolus therapy is preferred over reactive sliding scale management.
  • Analyze blood glucose patterns across multiple days to identify dose adjustment needs for basal, mealtime, and correction insulin components.
  • Describe insulin dose adjustments for special situations including sick days, fasting protocols, steroid therapy, enteral nutrition, and perioperative management.
3 Oral and Non-Insulin Medications
1 topic

Medication classes

  • Identify oral diabetes medication classes including metformin, sulfonylureas, DPP-4 inhibitors, SGLT2 inhibitors, and thiazolidinediones with their mechanisms.
  • Explain the clinical benefits and risks of SGLT2 inhibitors including cardiovascular and renal outcomes, euglycemic DKA risk, and genitourinary infection monitoring.
  • Describe GLP-1 receptor agonist medications including mechanisms, cardiovascular benefits, GI side effects, injection technique, and pancreatitis monitoring.
  • Analyze patient-specific factors including renal function, cardiovascular risk, weight goals, and hypoglycemia risk to recommend appropriate medication therapy selection.
  • Describe metformin prescribing considerations including GI side effects management, vitamin B12 monitoring, lactic acidosis risk factors, and renal function thresholds.
4 Glycemic Monitoring
2 topics

SMBG and A1C

  • Describe self-monitoring blood glucose techniques including meter accuracy, testing frequency recommendations, and pattern management documentation methods.
  • Explain HbA1c interpretation including correlation to estimated average glucose, factors affecting accuracy, and individualized A1c target determination.
  • Identify conditions affecting HbA1c accuracy including hemoglobin variants, anemia, chronic kidney disease, and recent transfusion requiring alternative monitoring.

CGM technology

  • Describe continuous glucose monitoring system components including sensor insertion, transmitter function, receiver or smartphone display, and calibration requirements.
  • Explain CGM data interpretation including ambulatory glucose profile, time in range analysis, glycemic variability metrics, and trend arrow clinical significance.
  • Analyze CGM data patterns including nocturnal hypoglycemia, postprandial spikes, dawn phenomenon, and sensor accuracy issues to guide therapy adjustments.
5 Acute Complications
2 topics

DKA and HHS

  • Identify the clinical presentation and diagnostic criteria of diabetic ketoacidosis including hyperglycemia, ketosis, acidosis, and precipitating factors.
  • Describe DKA management including IV fluid resuscitation protocols, insulin infusion, potassium replacement, bicarbonate considerations, and transition to subcutaneous insulin.
  • Explain hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state pathophysiology, clinical presentation differences from DKA, fluid deficit calculations, and management priorities.
  • Analyze patient presentations to differentiate DKA from HHS, identify mixed presentations, and determine appropriate fluid and insulin management protocols.

Hypoglycemia

  • Identify hypoglycemia symptoms including autonomic symptoms at mild levels, neuroglycopenic symptoms at moderate levels, and seizure or loss of consciousness at severe levels.
  • Describe hypoglycemia treatment protocols including the rule of 15, glucagon administration routes, IV dextrose indications, and post-treatment monitoring requirements.
  • Explain hypoglycemia prevention strategies including medication timing education, meal planning, exercise adjustment, alcohol counseling, and hypoglycemia unawareness management.
  • Analyze recurrent hypoglycemia patterns to identify contributing factors and recommend medication, dietary, or lifestyle modifications for prevention.
6 Chronic Complications
1 topic

Microvascular and macrovascular

  • Identify chronic microvascular complications including diabetic retinopathy, nephropathy, and neuropathy with their screening intervals and referral triggers.
  • Describe diabetic neuropathy types including peripheral sensory, autonomic, and focal neuropathies with their clinical manifestations and management approaches.
  • Explain cardiovascular risk reduction in diabetes including blood pressure targets, lipid management, aspirin therapy guidelines, and smoking cessation importance.
  • Analyze patient risk profiles to determine appropriate screening schedules, prevention strategies, and early intervention for chronic diabetes complications.
  • Describe diabetic nephropathy stages, microalbumin screening protocols, ACE inhibitor and ARB renoprotective therapy, and blood pressure targets for kidney preservation.
7 Diabetic Foot Care
1 topic

Foot assessment and prevention

  • Describe comprehensive diabetic foot examination including monofilament testing, pedal pulse assessment, skin inspection, nail care evaluation, and deformity identification.
  • Explain diabetic foot ulcer risk stratification and prevention strategies including proper footwear, daily inspection routines, and referral criteria for podiatry.
  • Describe diabetic foot ulcer classification systems including Wagner and University of Texas and explain wound care approaches for each classification level.
  • Analyze diabetic foot complications to determine infection severity, vascular adequacy, offloading needs, and appropriate referral to wound care or vascular surgery.
  • Explain Charcot neuroarthropathy recognition including clinical signs, immobilization requirements, and the importance of early diagnosis to prevent foot deformity progression.
8 Diabetes Self-Management Education
1 topic

DSMES principles

  • Identify the AADE7 self-care behaviors: healthy eating, being active, monitoring, taking medications, problem solving, reducing risks, and healthy coping.
  • Describe medical nutrition therapy for diabetes including carbohydrate counting, plate method, glycemic index concepts, and individualized meal planning strategies.
  • Explain exercise recommendations for diabetes management including aerobic and resistance training guidelines, blood glucose monitoring around exercise, and safety precautions.
  • Describe sick day management rules for diabetes including blood glucose monitoring frequency, ketone testing, medication adjustments, hydration, and when to seek emergency care.
  • Synthesize an individualized diabetes self-management education plan addressing health literacy, cultural considerations, behavioral goals, and measurable outcomes.
9 Inpatient Diabetes Management
1 topic

Hospital glycemic management

  • Describe inpatient glycemic targets including general ward and ICU blood glucose goals, hypoglycemia prevention priorities, and insulin infusion protocols.
  • Explain the transition from home diabetes regimen to hospital management including medication reconciliation, insulin dose adjustment, and oral agent hold policies.
  • Describe nursing considerations for managing diabetes during enteral and parenteral nutrition including insulin coverage strategies and monitoring frequency.
  • Analyze inpatient glucose data to identify hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia patterns and recommend insulin regimen modifications for improved glycemic control.
  • Describe discharge planning for diabetic patients including medication reconciliation, insulin education verification, follow-up scheduling, and home glucose monitoring supply coordination.
  • Synthesize an inpatient glycemic management protocol incorporating order sets, nursing-driven insulin adjustment algorithms, hypoglycemia prevention measures, and transition planning.
10 Special Populations and Technology
1 topic

Special populations

  • Describe gestational diabetes management including screening criteria, glucose targets, medical nutrition therapy, insulin initiation triggers, and postpartum follow-up.
  • Explain diabetes management considerations for older adults including simplified regimens, hypoglycemia avoidance, individualized A1c targets, and fall risk assessment.
  • Describe emerging diabetes technologies including closed-loop insulin delivery systems, smart insulin pens, and digital health applications for self-management support.
  • Synthesize a comprehensive diabetes care program incorporating glycemic monitoring, medication management, self-management education, and chronic complication screening.
11 Psychosocial Aspects of Diabetes
1 topic

Psychosocial assessment and support

  • Identify psychosocial challenges in diabetes management including diabetes distress, depression comorbidity, fear of hypoglycemia, and self-management burnout.
  • Describe screening tools for diabetes distress including the DDS-17 and PAID scales and explain their integration into routine diabetes care visits.
  • Explain strategies for addressing diabetes self-management barriers including motivational interviewing, goal setting, social support enhancement, and referral to behavioral health.
  • Analyze patient psychosocial assessment data to identify barriers to glycemic control and develop targeted interventions addressing emotional and behavioral factors.
12 Diabetes Prevention
1 topic

Prediabetes and prevention

  • Identify prediabetes diagnostic criteria including impaired fasting glucose, impaired glucose tolerance, and HbA1c in the 5.7-6.4 percent range.
  • Describe the Diabetes Prevention Program including evidence for lifestyle intervention, weight loss targets, physical activity goals, and metformin considerations.
  • Explain population-level diabetes risk factors including obesity, family history, ethnicity, gestational diabetes history, and metabolic syndrome components.
  • Synthesize a prediabetes intervention program incorporating screening protocols, lifestyle modification education, follow-up monitoring, and community resource coordination.

Scope

Included Topics

  • Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes pathophysiology, diagnostic criteria, and atypical presentation differentiation.
  • Insulin types, basal-bolus regimens, pump therapy, dose adjustment, and special situation management.
  • Oral and non-insulin injectable medications including SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP-1 receptor agonists.
  • Self-monitoring blood glucose, HbA1c interpretation, and continuous glucose monitoring technology and data analysis.
  • Acute complications including DKA, HHS, and hypoglycemia recognition, treatment, and prevention strategies.
  • Chronic microvascular and macrovascular complications screening, prevention, and management.
  • Diabetic foot examination, risk stratification, ulcer classification, and wound care approaches.
  • Diabetes self-management education including nutrition, exercise, sick day management, and behavior change.
  • Inpatient diabetes management including glycemic targets, insulin protocols, and nutrition-related insulin coverage.
  • Special populations including gestational diabetes, geriatric considerations, and emerging diabetes technology.

Not Covered

  • Endocrinology fellowship-level diabetes research or clinical trial methodology.
  • Detailed islet cell transplantation or surgical diabetes interventions beyond nursing awareness.
  • Advanced insulin pump programming or CGM sensor technology engineering beyond clinical nursing use.
  • Pediatric diabetes management covered in the separate pediatric nursing CE domain.
  • Bariatric surgery management beyond diabetes remission awareness and post-surgical monitoring.

CE Diabetes Management is coming soon

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