Welcome and Introduction

Diabetes: Myths, Facts and Visions

The perception of diabetes mellitus as a complex and life-limiting condition prevails, despite advances in research and innovations in treatment. Confusion amongst people with diabetes and healthcare professionals alike is compounded by a wealth of information, often editorial, that liberally interprets trends in diabetes into attractive ‘cures’. Here we examine common myths, reveal the facts and consider a future vision for people with diabetes. This session:

• Reviews the incidence and growth of diabetes from a local, regional and global perspective
• Identifies common diabetes myths and discussing the evidence in relation to best practice
• Provides an overview of current evidence-based guidelines for the management of type 1 and type 2 diabetes
• Overviews new trends and treatments in diabetes management

Lifestyle and Health Literacy: The Psychosocial Effects of Diabetes

There is often a high degree of focus that goes towards understanding and preventing the clinical complications of diabetes. However, less focus is placed on the psychological impacts of a diabetes diagnosis and the long-term changes to a person’s life thereafter. This session will look at a holistic approach to diabetes and its life-changing impact on a person. It includes:

• What common psychological impacts does diabetes have on someone?
• Who is more vulnerable to this?
• How can we improve our support for those living with diabetes?

Understanding Insulin Therapy

Insulin therapy is prescribed for people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, depending on insulin production or resistance to insulin. This everyday medicine is not ‘one size fits all’ and individualisation of therapy is vital for optimal glycaemic outcomes. In this session, we will discuss:

• Who needs insulin and why?
• What are the different types of insulin currently available?
• What education can we provide to patients for appropriate insulin administration?
• What is the nurses’ role and responsibility when administering insulin?

Sleep Disorders and Medications

According to a recent study, around 60% of Australians have a sleep problem. This session will discuss the relationship between sleep disorders and medication. It includes:

• The types of sleep disorders and their causes
• The medications used to treat sleep disorders
• The medications that may contribute to sleep disorders

Medicinal Cannabis

In 2016, the Queensland Parliament passed the Public Health (Medicinal Cannabis) Bill. This session will discuss the implications of the use of medicinal cannabis in patient care. It includes:

• What are the current laws regarding medicinal cannabis in Queensland?
• Why doesn't Queensland have an amnesty for medicinal cannabis?
• How can our patients access medicinal cannabis?
• What are the considerations our patients have to be aware of when taking medicinal cannabis?

Welcome and Review

Cardiac Assessment

Cardiac disease is increasingly common in our society. Many chronic diseases, such as diabetes and hypertension, are also linked to cardiac problems. In this session, you will refresh your knowledge about the underlying principles of performing a cardiac assessment. We will:

• Review normal anatomy and physiology of the cardiac system
• Discuss key aspects of healthy heart function
• Find out what your first observations tell you
• Perform a systematic assessment of heart function
• Review common disease states and related assessment findings
• Document and use terminology correctly

Let’s Have a Heart-to-Heart about Cardiovascular Medicines

Cardiovascular medicines can be daunting to work with, as the consequences of when things go wrong may be profound. These medicines are often seen as complex and challenging. This session will explore a number of important groups of cardiovascular medicines in common use, including those for:

• Heart failure
• Hypertension
• Atrial Fibrillation
• Cardiac Rhythm
• Dyslipidaemia
• Other cardiac conditions

Mother Nature: A Bioterrorist?

The history of emerging diseases and likely future demographic changes in the world suggest that we are in for many outbreaks of infectious diseases by 2050. The world’s growing and increasingly mobile human population, packed ever more closely together in cities, as well as encroaching on the territory of wild animals, will have even more opportunity to pick up and spread such viruses in the future. There are over one million viruses in wildlife that we don’t know about and any one of these could spill over into the human population. Will we be ready? This session includes:

• The history of pandemics through the ages
• Viruses moving from animals into humans

Hyperglycaemic Emergencies: Sick Day Management, HHS and DKA

Often the focus of diabetes management can centre on preventing long-term complications. However, the prevalence of diabetes means that nurses working in acute care settings will encounter people with acute metabolic complications of diabetes. This session explains:

• How does an insulin deficit cause DKA?
• Why can DKA be linked to stress and acute illness
• How would a person present?
• What is the nurse’s role in recognising DKA?
• What is its clinical management? A guide to practice
• How do we manage sick days?

Managing Diabetes Pre and Postoperatively

Surgical and investigative interventions for people with diabetes can disrupt glycaemic control and contribute to delayed healing and increased morbidity and length of stay. This session will consider the perioperative management of diabetes, including:

• The risks associated with surgery for people with diabetes
• The differences in the perioperative management of people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes
• Oral glucose-lowering medicines and non-insulin injectables
• Insulin therapy
• Acute complications post-surgery
• Discharge planning - identifying those at risk of poor outcomes and how to support them

Hypoglycaemia and Diabetes

Hypoglycaemia is a daily concern in the lives of people with diabetes and fear can influence the person’s ability to self-manage. Education and prevention are key and can reduce the likelihood of a hypoglycaemic event and the potential complications that may occur. This session will dive deeper into the physiology and management of hypoglycaemia. It includes:

• A definition of hypoglycaemia
• The signs and symptoms of hypoglycaemia and who is at risk
• Treatment of hypoglycaemia
• Complex issues in hypoglycaemia - hypo-unawareness, relative hypoglycaemia and nocturnal hypoglycaemia
• The psychosocial impact of hypoglycaemia for the person with diabetes