Part five: Hypoglycaemia, illness management and diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)

Part five of the course is aimed at all health professionals supporting and caring for people with diabetes and pancreatic cancer who would like more information on hypoglycaemia, illness management and diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). 

If you specialise in diabetes, the content of this course may feel very familiar to you, but there could be some elements that are less familiar where the focus is pancreatic cancer specific. It is important we cover the full spectrum to ensure everyone finishes the course with a good understanding and knowledge of diabetes in pancreatic cancer. 

The course aims to increase understanding of diabetes and pancreatic cancer where there is often intersection between job roles (such as HPB CNSs and DSNs). It aims to help you deliver your role in the best way possible.

• Increase your knowledge and understanding of hypoglycaemia and how to manage this
• Increase your knowledge and understanding of ‘sick day rules’ when someone has diabetes and pancreatic cancer 
• Increase your knowledge and understanding of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)
• Grow your confidence in supporting patients with diabetes and pancreatic cancer

There will be a short quiz toward the end of the course to test your knowledge of the course content.

You will receive a CPD certificate of completion at the end of course. 

Our courses are mapped to the ACCEND framework. Find out more about ACCEND.

This course supports the following ACCEND Capabilities in Practice:

• 6. 1 Provide information and advice appropriate to the needs, priorities and concerns of individuals
• 7. 4 Access information from a range of resources, and use them to meet the individual needs of service users, translating clinically related topics into language which is understandable both for individuals to self-manage effectively and for the development of patient information
• 14. 1 Understand the complexities of working with people who have cancer +/- other clinical conditions including physical, psychological, spiritual and psychosocial
• 24. 2 Engage in self-directed learning, critically reflecting on practice to maximise advanced clinical skills and knowledge, as well as own potential to lead and develop both care and services locally and regionally.

Of those who have taken the course to date:
– 98% rated it good or excellent
– 94% reported their knowledge and understanding increased
– 100% would recommend to a colleague

“I am more confident when dealing with diabetic patients” Nurse

Do I need to complete part five of the course in one go? 

No. You can start part five of the course and come back to it later to complete it. The course will remember your progress. 

Can I get CPD from taking this course? 

Yes. This course is CPD certified. On completion of part five of this course, you will receive a certificate with the CPD stamp which you can use for revalidation. 

Do I need to take all six parts of this course? 

You can pick and choose which parts of the course you would like to take (other than part one which is mandatory). We recommend taking all six parts, however, it’s your choice and you’ll receive a CPD certificate for each part completed. 

We would like to thank the following people who wrote, reviewed and tested this online course, in addition to our Pancreatic Cancer Specialist Nurses: 

Authors:

• Anna Burton, Senior Specialist Pancreatic Dietitian, Leeds Teaching Hospital
• Laura McGeeney, Diabetes Specialist Dietitian, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
• Vicki Alabraba, Education & Research Associate and Diabetes Specialist Nurse, University Hospitals Leicester NHS Trust (until December 2024) and Clinical Education and Training Specialist, Insulet International Ltd

Reviewers:

• David Jones, Senior Diabetes Specialist Nurse, OCDEM, OUH, Churchill Hospital, Oxford
• Ellen Lyell, Specialist Dietitian, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle
• Makylah Lavender, Lead Diabetes Specialist Nurse, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
• Philip Johnston, Consultant in Endocrinology and Diabetes, Regional Centre for Endocrinology and Diabetes, Royal Victoria Hospital Belfast
• Rachel Ewing, Advanced Practice Diabetes Dietitian, South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust

User testers:

• Katie Hodkinson, Macmillan Upper GI CNS, Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospital NHS
• Margaret Palmer, Diabetes Specialist Nurse, Leeds Teaching Hospitals
• Rosie Forrest, UGI/HPB CNS, Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospital NHS

Videos: People affected by pancreatic cancer who shared their experience:

• Mark Rixon
• Sally Pascall
• Sharon Marks