It is important for the training of support workers to match the needs of their client. EdHealth has created an innovative way to combine online modules to create the Diabetes 4 Disability (D4D) course to cover the specific needs of each NDIS participant’s version of diabetes.
This is the only online program for support workers in Australia to use this approach. Additional customisation is achieved with further information presented on the specific needs of the NDIS participant during the Online Skills Check (OSC) online session with our Credentialled Diabetes Educator/diabetes educator. A time span estimate is provided for each Module to guide course participants, with the time required dependent on their English skills.
Module 1: Diabetes
This module has 6 lessons, providing an overview of the management and support of people with type 1, type 2 or other types of diabetes. Length: 3-4 hours
Lesson 1: What is Diabetes
An explanation about the types of diabetes establishes a foundation to your understanding of the suggestions health professionals make about the care of a person’s diabetes. You check how much you have learnt with a quiz at the end of the lesson.
Lesson 2: Lifestyle management of diabetes
Lifestyle management of diabetes includes moving towards a healthy diet, including physical activity in a person’s day and also how to manage stress so it does not increase glucose levels. This applies to people with all types of diabetes. The quiz at the end helps you to practice the quiz format for this course.
Lesson 3: Diabetes medication and hypoglycaemia
We have a wide range of diabetes medication treatment for diabetes. This lesson introduces the diabetes tablets, insulins and non-insulin injectable medications currently used to treat diabetes in Australia. Consider the diabetes medication/s your NDIS participant uses as you go through this lesson … and the quiz helps you remember it all.
Lesson 4: Diabetes linked health issues
A number of diabetes linked health conditions can be caused by high glucose levels, high blood pressure and/or high cholesterol over a longer period of time. This is because high glucose levels will have a negative impact on the person’s small and large blood vessels, if their diabetes is not well managed. This lesson explains more about these health issues, how the person monitors, prevents and treats the problems. Explore how much you have learnt in the lesson when you do the quiz.
Lesson 5: Diabetes self/supported management strategies
Is your client able to be involved with their diabetes care or do you need to do most of it for them? It is important for NDIS participants to be involved in their own diabetes care. This lesson lets you explore how to include your client in their diabetes management tasks, so they can make most of their own decisions about their diabetes care with their circle of support.
Lesson 6: The diabetes health team and community care
Each person will have a diabetes health team with a number of health professionals to help them om the care of different aspects of their diabetes … when you do the lesson 6 quiz you will have practiced the format a number of times and know more about diabetes than before you started the Module. This has prepared you to do the Module 1 Quiz which, once you pass with a score over 80%, will enable you to move onto Module 2.
Knowledge evaluation
A quiz is completed at the end of each Lesson in Module 1 to support course participants to become familiar with the quiz format and to reinforce the knowledge presented in the course.
Another quiz is completed after the Lesson 6 quiz. Course participants are able to have multiple attempts at the course, until they achieve the pass score, with a mark over 80%. They are then able to progress to their next Module.
Module 2: Glucose monitoring: meter
Focused on glucose monitoring with a meter, there are two lessons in this online module. You learn the information needed to do an accurate glucose reading, know what the number means and how you can help the person to get their readings back on track when they are outside of their target range. Even if your client is doing continuous glucose monitoring, you will still need to be able to do a blood glucose level, understand what the reading means and how to act on it.
Length: 2-3 hours.
Lesson 1: Blood Glucose Monitoring
You learn in this lesson why people with diabetes check their glucose levels, what the glucose levels mean and what to do to act on their readings.
Lesson 2: Role of support workers in glucose monitoring
In this lesson you learn how to do an accurate blood glucose level on a person with diabetes. It is important to use the practice equipment your organisation arranged for you, as you do this lesson. Once you have finished the two lessons, you’re ready to do the end of Module 2 Quiz. Once again you need a score of 80% or above (re-sit until you get the passing score) to move onto Module 3.
Your organisation would have organised for your group to have a Practice Equipment Pack. This has the equipment needed to learn how to use a blood glucose meter. Use the equipment to learn and practice the technique outlined in Module 2 Lesson 2. Once you successfully complete the D4D online course Modules, an Online Skills Check (OSC) will be arranged for you to have your technique using the meter evaluated.
Knowledge evaluation
A quiz is completed at the end of Module 2 and course participants are able to have multiple attempts at the course, until they achieve the pass score, with a mark over 80%. They are then able to progress to their next Module.
Continuous Glucose Monitoring
If a NDIS participant uses the Libre or Dexcom G6 continuous glucose monitoring systems, support workers are taught how to use them in an Online Skills Session. Conducted by one of the EdHealth Credentialled Diabetes Educators/Diabetes educators, this session provides the essential knowledge and skills required to put in a sensor and use the equipment.
Coming soon:
N.B. Online theory modules are currently being written to teach future participants about the Libre 2 and Dexcom G6 continuous glucose monitoring systems. A quiz will evaluate the knowledge being taught at the end of the Module.
These modules will replace the current Online Skills Sessions and technique will be evaluated in an Online Skills Check.
Skills Evaluation
Each support worker has one of our clinical staff check their glucose monitoring skills, using the diabetes equipment you have learnt to use in Module 2 of the D4D course. We make sure you can use the equipment safely and accurately with the person you support.
Module 3: Insulin
The three lessons in this module give you the knowledge, skills and confidence to support your client with the insulin part of your client’s diabetes management. It is likely your client will be much happier having you support them with their insulin than anybody else. That’s because you know them and can work within their normal routine to do this part of their diabetes care.
Length: 2-3 hours.
Lesson 1: Why do some people need insulin?
Finding out why people with diabetes need insulin, helps you to understand a lot about a person’s diabetes. We give you that information because it helps you to understand your client’s diabetes with more clarity!
Lesson 2: How to give insulin injections?
Everything you need to know about giving an injection of insulin safely to a client … and why it isn’t illegal for you to do so!
Equipment required during the module: insulin pen, needles and injection sponge. Ask your Group Leader for the Practice Equipment Pack. We also suggest a copy of the client’s medication insulin order is available for you to practice the technique using the Chart you will use when doing or supervising your client’s insulin injections.
Lesson 3: Hypoglycaemia
Each support worker has one of our clinical staff check their glucose monitoring skills, using the diabetes equipment you have learnt to use in Module 2 of the D4D course. We make sure you can use the equipment safely with the person you support.
How to identify, treat and prevent hypoglycaemia (a dangerously low glucose level that some people with diabetes are at risk of and you need to know how to manage!)
Don’t forget the quiz at the end of the lesson. You need a score of 80% or above to pass … and it checks your knowledge of Module 3!
Knowledge evaluation
A quiz is completed at the end of Module 3 and course participants are able to have multiple attempts at the course, until they achieve the pass score, with a mark over 80%. They are then able to progress to their next Module.
Non-Insulin Injectables (Trulicity or Ozempic)
If a NDIS participant uses a non-insulin injectable medication (Ozempic or Trulicity), an Online Skills Session is conducted by one of our Credentialled Diabetes Educators/diabetes educators. Participants learn the essential knowledge and skills required to safely administer or supervise the client if they give their own injection. They have their technique evaluated during the session.
Coming soon:
These modules will replace the current Online Skills Sessions.
Skills Evaluation
Each support worker has a Credentialled Diabetes Educator (CDE) check their Trulicity or Ozempic injection skills, using the diabetes equipment you learnt to use in the Online Skills Session (OSS) of the D4D course. This is conducted at the end of the OSS so we can make sure you can use the equipment safely and accurately with the person you support.
Module 4: Diabetes Emergency: GlucaGen HypoKit
If a client has a GlucaGen HypoKit available, their support workers are required to learn how to use it if they are expected to use it in an emergency. This is particularly important while there are extended Ambulance call-out times. Support workers are able to learn this skill because the injection can be given as a sub-cutaneous injection by injecting at a 45 degree angle. This medication is also carried in the Ambulance, if required in an emergency.
Length: 1-2 hours.
Equipment required during the module: GlucaGen HypoKit. Ask your Group Leader for the GlucaGenHypoKit Practice Equipment Pack. We suggest a copy of the client’s medication order for this medication is available for you to use to practice the technique, using the Chart you will use if you need to use this medication in an emergency.
Knowledge evaluation
A quiz is completed at the end of Module 4 and course participants are able to have multiple attempts at the course, until they achieve the pass score, with a mark over 80%. They are then able to progress to their next Module.
Skills Evaluation
Each support worker has a Credentialled Diabetes Educator (CDE)/diabetes educator check their use of the GlucaGen HypoKit, using the diabetes equipment from the Practice Equipment Pack. We make sure you can use the equipment safely and accurately with the person you support.
Contact Us
Talk to the EdHealth team about your organisation’s diabetes training needs. We can give you a quote on a customised Diabetes 4 Disability training solution to match the needs of your NDIS participant and their support workers.
Click! and complete the contact form and an EdHealth Team member will get back to you.
Email: admin1@edhealth.com.au Phone: 0412 102 048