BSPED2018 Poster Presentations Diabetes (40 abstracts)
Basildon and Thurrock University Hospital, Basildon, UK.
Aim: To empower our patients/parents to self-manage Type 1 diabetes (T1dm) by providing them with required knowledge and skills.
Method: We identified 10 motivated, mostly newly diagnosed T1dm patients and their families. We organised a master-class to educate them on how to use DIASEND to review blood sugars, identify patterns and adjust Insulin doses. We conducted weekly DIASEND clinics for 6 weeks and fortnightly for another 6 weeks (phone call/email). The whole diabetes team participated in this process including nurses, doctors and dieticians. An objective assessment was made on the degree of competence of patient/parents in identifying patterns in blood sugars and ability to make appropriate changes in Insulin doses at each DAISEND clinic using a standardised format. A qualitative questionnaire was completed by families at the beginning and end to feedback on the effectiveness of this project.
Results: 100% of families were competently identifying patterns in blood sugars at week 5 and 89% of families were competently making appropriate adjustments in Insulin doses by week 5. Subsequently patient/parent engagement declined suggesting that 5 contacts are sufficient and practical for families. HbA1c improved in 75% of the patients, mean HbA1c before initiating QI project was 52.8 mmol/mol and 50.2 mmol/mol at the end. Qualitative feedback at the end of the project showed that 100% of families felt that this project helped them to gain more knowledge and understanding about their/their childs diabetes (60% reported definitely, 40% reported partly). 100% of the families reported that they felt more confident and empowered in making changes to Insulin doses at the end of the project (75% reported definitely and 25% reported partly). 75% of the families reported that they would continue to review blood sugars at the end of the project and 45% of these reported that they would do so using DIASEND as opposed to 0% in the beginning of the project.
Conclusion: Frequent DIASEND download clinics with T1dm patients/parents is an effective way of educating and empowering T1dm them to competently self manage their diabetes by identifying patterns in blood sugars and adjusting Insulin doses.