WORKSHOP ON PRAGMATIC MANAGEMENT OF DIABETES CARE

Hospitalized patients with diabetes frequently have higher morbidity and mortality than the general population. Standardization of care is an important concept to consider in any hospital or healthcare system and is a constant challenge with the growth of a health system and changing practices involved in the management of chronic disease. Insulin treatment regimens and other self-management strategies are frequently variable and hence achieving glucose control in the hospital setting becomes an arduous task. However, for effective implementation of patient care algorithms, education of all medical and nursing staff that aids in implementation of the protocols decreases nurses’ dependence on doctors and further empowers patients for the purpose of self-care. Therefore, the Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, had organized a Workshop for nurse managers on Pragmatic Management of Diabetes care at CMC, Vellore.

Twenty nurse managers from various departments had actively participated in the workshop. The programme began with an introduction on the epidemiology and pathogenesis of diabetes and the role of empowerment of nurses for better in-hospital care. This was followed by a lecture on the need for self-monitoring and self injection by all patients during hospital stay by Dr. Asha H.S. (Associate Professor). She also spoke about the logistic issues (insulin storage, labeling, self monitoring devices) and the need for timely implementation of these strategies. Dr. Mini (Nutritionist) spoke on the diet diabetic inpatients and the need to educate the relatives on choosing healthy foods at home. This was followed by a talk on diabetic foot and on how comprehensive foot examination aids in early detection of complications and diabetes care by Dr. Mahesh (Assistant Professor). Subsequently Charge Nurses Mrs. Ruth Daniel, Mrs. Bharathi, Mrs.Vijayalakshmi and Mrs. Mercy Inbakumari were involved in a practical demonstration of gadgets (glucometers and timely calibration of devices, insulin pen and various insulin regimens) in diabetes self-care. The programme was received enthusiastically and the various department nurse managers requested that ward-specific workshops be conducted in the near future to improve nursing care. We believe that such nurse-initiated, nurse driven and nurse-implemented comprehensive programmes for the management of diabetes in the hospital would be feasible and successful in patient empowerment.