ACPE-Approved Diabetes Management Certificate for Pharmacists

Diabetes mellitus remains a major public health problem as a leading cause of death and micro- and macro-vascular morbidity. The management of diabetes continues to evolve as new research, technology, and treatments allow for enhanced patient care. It is vital for healthcare professionals and providers, including physicians, nurses, and pharmacists, to remain up to date with the newest diabetes care and diabetes education guidelines, which now incorporate inclusive language and a patient-first approach. This includes a strong understanding of both the classification and diagnosis of diabetes. This course will review the pathophysiology, classification, and diagnosis of diabetes mellitus in the context of the updated Standards of Care in Diabetes 2023 guidelines.

Glycemic control is a cornerstone in managing diabetes and is multifaceted, requiring various tools for accurate assessment and effective management.1 Such tools include hemoglobin A1C (A1C), continuous glucose monitoring (CGM), time in range (TIR), and blood glucose monitoring (BGM).1 It is vital for health care providers, including physicians, nurses, and pharmacists, to remain up to date with the newest diabetes care guidelines, which include recommended glycemic goals and the assessment of glycemic control. This course will compare the various methods by which to assess glycemic control and discuss recommended glycemic goals for different patient cohorts. These topics will be discussed in the context of the updated American Diabetes Association Standards of Care in Diabetes 2023 guidelines, specifically the Glycemic Targets section.

Diabetes mellitus remains a major public health problem as a leading cause of death and micro- and macro-vascular morbidity. The management of diabetes continues to evolve as new research, technology, and treatments allow for enhanced patient care. It is vital for health care providers, including physicians, nurses, and pharmacists, to remain up to date with the newest diabetes care guidelines, which include updates to the pharmacologic management of diabetes mellitus. This course will review available oral diabetes medications, with a discussion of mechanisms of action, side effects, and contraindications, and a comparison of available agents. Suggested place in a therapeutic regimen will also be discussed in the context of the updated Standards of Care in Diabetes 2023 guidelines.

Diabetes mellitus remains a major public health problem as a leading cause of death and micro- and macro-vascular morbidity. The management of diabetes continues to evolve as new research, technology, and treatments allow for enhanced patient care. It is vital for health care providers, including physicians, nurses, and pharmacists, to remain up to date with the newest diabetes care guidelines, which include updates to the pharmacologic management of diabetes mellitus. This course will review available injectable diabetes medications, with a discussion of mechanisms of action, side effects, and contraindications, and a comparison of available agents. Suggested place in a therapeutic regimen will also be discussed in the context of the updated Standards of Care in Diabetes 2023 guidelines.

Diabetes mellitus remains a major public health problem as a leading cause of death and micro- and macro-vascular morbidity. The management of diabetes continues to evolve as new research, technology, and treatments allow for enhanced patient care. It is vital for health care providers, including physicians, nurses, and pharmacists, to remain up to date with the newest diabetes care guidelines, which include updates to the pharmacologic management of diabetes mellitus. This course will review available insulin products, with suggested dosing regimens and a comparison of available agents. Suggested place in a therapeutic regimen will also be discussed in the context of the updated Standards of Care in Diabetes 2023 guidelines.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a common condition, affecting over 11% of the US population, or 37.3 million Americans.[1] Over 350 million people are affected worldwide.[2] More than just a disorder of hyperglycemia, DM affects multiple organ systems, with varied consequences and complications. Diabetes-related complications may be acute or chronic and may range from acute, life-threatening hypoglycemia, diabetic ketoacidosis, or diabetic coma to chronic neuropathy, nephropathy, retinopathy, and widespread vascular disease. Excellent control of hyperglycemia with a multitude of available pharmaceutical agents in combination with lifestyle changes affords the best chance of preventing diabetes-related complications. When complications do occur, early recognition and management lead to the best outcomes. Management of complications is condition-specific. This course will describe the most common complications of diabetes (both type 1 and type 2) and their respective management options.

The "Nutrition and Lifestyle Approaches to Preventing and Managing Diabetes" course is designed to equip pharmacists and pharmacy technicians with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively counsel patients on nutrition and lifestyle approaches to diabetes self-management education. The course covers the pathophysiology of diabetes that can be modified with nutrition and lifestyle recommendations, over-the-counter medications and supplements utilized for diabetes management, and counseling techniques for effective patient education. The course also includes a gap analysis of current pharmacy practice regarding lifestyle and nutrition in diabetes care, identifying areas where improvement is needed to optimize patient outcomes. By the end of the course, participants will have a deeper understanding of the importance of nutrition and lifestyle in diabetes prevention and management and will be better equipped to provide comprehensive diabetes care to their patients.

The majority of patients with diabetes are managed in the primary care setting. Given the complexity of caring for patients with diabetes, the high and increasing workload in primary care practices, and the urgent need to improve the quality of diabetes care, a partnership among diverse professionals with knowledge and interest in diabetes care has been shown to meet the needs of patients. Collaborative working relationships with prescribers and other stakeholders, including pharmacists, is essential to improved patient management. Collaborative practice models are developing innovative approaches, demonstrating care improvements, and delivering comprehensive patient-centered diabetes care. Pharmacist integration can include individual or group visits with other members of the interprofessional team, education, and medication management through collaborations, strategies, and interventions within the scope of the pharmacy team. Published examples of successful interventions are described for pharmacy teams to consider.