Blogs

1 person recommends this.
Hello Texas ADCES members! As 2020 comes to a close, I wanted to take the opportunity to acknowledge and thank you all for your dedication to the profession! It's been amazing watching this profession adjust to the changes 2020 has presented and overcome challenges to meet the diabetes care and education needs of our patients and their families. Even in 2020, we have been able to thrive and still remain a valuable part of the health care team, always putting our patients at the forefront of everything we do. We have quickly adapted to shift to a new virtual world, not without bumps along the road, but with the tenacity to keep going even when things seemed ...
3 comments
Be the first person to recommend this.
This month's guest blogger is Julie Adkison, PharmD, BCACP, CDCES. Julie has been on the faculty of the Memorial Family Medicine Residency Program in Sugar Land, Texas for almost 20 years. Julie teaches the full scope of primary care pharmacotherapy to family medicine residents and specializes in diabetes care. She supervises a weekly specialty diabetes clinic, monthly shared medical visits, and provides individual consults as needed. Julie enjoys teaching young physicians to embrace the challenge and reward of managing complex patients. Resources for Medication Cost Savings Designing affordable medication regimens is not only important ...
2 comments
1 person recommends this.
This month's guest contributor is Michelle Taub. Michelle Taub MS, RD LD CDCES BC-ADM is a native Houstonian. She completed her undergraduate degree in Nutrition Sciences at the University of Houston and her Master’s degree at Texas Woman’s University in the Texas Medical Center. She currently is a CDCES in pediatric endocrinology at Texas Children’s Hospital and also part time at Baylor College of Medicine’s Young Adult Diabetes Clinic. She has been at Texas Children’s for eight years and her experience includes research assistant for Vitamin D studies in neonates at the Children’s Nutrition Research Center and diabetes education for Maternal Fetal Medicine ...
8 comments

Learning the LNG Lingo

Be the first person to recommend this.
Let’s talk LNGs This month we are breaking down a very commonly used abbreviation among ADCES Connect, but one that not everyone is familiar with. Keep reading to learn more about Local Networking Groups (LNGs), how to choose the LNG for you, tips for getting the most out of your membership, and recent news from your leaders. What is an LNG? LNG is the acronym for Local Networking Group. LNGs are responsible for education, networking, and community connections at a local level versus statewide. It allows for more intimate gatherings and connections with colleagues in similar communities. How many LNGs are there? Currently, the Texas Coordinating ...
2 comments
1 person recommends this.
This month we welcome Bernadette Asias-Dinh and Taylor Jaramillo as our guest contributors. Bernadette is a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Houston College of Pharmacy. Her practice site is at Vecino Health Centers – Denver Harbor Family Clinic which is an FQHC in Northeast Houston. As an ambulatory care pharmacy specialist, she provides collaborative drug therapy management and education for diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, tobacco cessation, and anticoagulation. Taylor is a fourth year pharmacy student at the University of Houston College of Pharmacy. She intends to pursue a PGY1 and PGY2 pharmacy residency in one of her areas ...
5 comments
1 person recommends this.
This month we welcome a guest blogger, Quisha Umemba, MPH, BSN, RN, CDCES, CHWI. The Founder of Umemba Health LLC, Quisha is a Registered Nurse with a Masters degree in Public Health. She is a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist, a Certified Lifestyle Coach, and a Certified Community Health Worker Instructor. As an educator and consultant, Quisha works with community organizations, social service agencies, government agencies and healthcare systems to help them prevent and manage chronic disease in their patient populations. Having developed, implemented, and overseen numerous health initiatives and community collaborations, Quisha noticed a need ...
5 comments
1 person recommends this.
Please join us in congratulating the 2020 Texas Diabetes Care and Education Specialist of the Year, Barbara Kocurek, PharmD, BCPS, CDCES, FAADE Barb started volunteering for AADE in the late 90s when there were very few pharmacists in diabetes education. She likes being an ADCES leader as “it allows me to be part of a group that is passionate, inspiring, and dedicated to improving the care and quality of life for people with diabetes.” Barb is committed “to be a collaborative and supportive leader who aligns education and clinical practices so that patients with chronic diseases such as diabetes receive value based care that optimizes their chances to live ...
2 comments
Be the first person to recommend this.
As Diabetes Care and Education Specialists, we have learned how to rise to the needs of PWD and other healthcare professionals during times of disaster. While this disaster is not weather related, it is showing to be more disruptive and deadly. During this event, we can apply some of the same disaster readiness, response, and recovery skills that we have previously learned. I am hearing from some of DCES that they have been furloughed and are at home due to 'stay-at-home' orders, virtual medical visits, and even some low hospital census for non-Covid issues. As professionals, we can continue to contribute as we know we can make a difference! Due to our unique ...
0 comments
Be the first person to recommend this.
COVID-19 information is now on ADCES. Please check under Practice Resources for some good information to help your patients. On this page, you will also find the Sick Day Management handouts for both adults and for children as well as DKA handouts. Be sure to read the articles that are also posted on how COVID-19 puts people with diabetes at higher risk. You will also find some great links to help you understand and help your patients to better prepare. See it all at diabeteseducator.org/practice/practice-tools/app-resources/covid-19-information You can also see more about emergency preparedness for diabetes at the homepage for Diabetes Disaster Response ...
0 comments

Ready or Not?

Be the first person to recommend this.
It's on the TV. It's in your emails...seems it is everywhere! It's the latest news about the COVID-19 virus and it has everyone thinking. While the virus is not a good thing, it is good that we are thinking again about being prepared. I believe that as DCES, we should also be thinking about how COVID-19 will fit into our practices and into what we teach our patients. I have a good friend who wrote an article that said in regards to preparing to care for health conditions during emergency times, we are either complacent or hysterical. He does not embrace either feeling. Rather, he says that we need to be mindfully aware that we live in a volatile world where ...
0 comments

February LNG Events Recap

1 person recommends this.
And just like that, February is almost to an end. We hope that as the year continues we are all inspired to continue to gather, network, and grow our connections as this community of CDCES's. We are so much stronger as one unified front and having the opportunities to work together, learn together, and laugh together makes this profession so different than others. That is where the value of a local networking group (LNG) comes into play to allow for such opportunities closer to home. Two of our local networking groups hosted events this month and kindly shared pictures from their events. The first is from the South Central LNG (formerly San Antonio) and the ...
0 comments

A New Association Name

2 people recommend this.
Last week, many of us were blown away by the announcement of the NEW name for our organization that better reflects out new title as Diabetes Care and Education Specialists. We are now ADCES - the Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists. Diabetes educators do so much more than educate. This new title truly embodies all that we do in this specialty and association to ensure a brighter future for those affected diabetes, pre-diabetes, and cardiometabolic conditions. Along with the new name, came new logos and new branding to better tell the story of ADCES and what we all want to represent in our profession. I hope you will take a minute ...
1 comment
1 person recommends this.
On my way to work this morning, I noticed the man who makes his "home" under the highway bridge. He is usually standing out by the left-hand turn lane with his sign. It is not the best place to stand as the cars cannot stop as they make the turn and so I don't think he is able to bring in a lot of charity. As I made my turn, I glanced over at his "home". It was set up high right underneath where the upper highway meets the support structure of the bridge. I noticed his sleeping bag "bedroom" and then something bright caught my eye. There next to his little "dining table" he had placed a colorful box of flowers as to add a bit of hope to his little "home". ...
0 comments
1 person recommends this.
Below is a repost from the Pharmacy COI. If you do not belong you are missing out - they are a great resource! The Pneumococcal Vaccine in Diabetes Annah J. Brittingham, Pharm.D. Candidate, Ruthanne S. Staas, Pharm.D. Candidate, Yen Dang, PharmD, CTTS-M University of Maryland Eastern Shore School of Pharmacy and Health Professions 11868 College Backbone Road, Princess Anne, Maryland 21853 Introduction Streptococcus pneumoniae is a bacteria commonly associated with ear or sinus infections, meningitis, bacteremia, or pneumonia. Pneumococcal disease can be diagnosed through testing blood or cerebrospinal fluid. The most common symptoms include fever, chills, ...
1 comment
3 people recommend this.
On November 1, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) final rule , which sets the Medicare payment rates for calendar year (CY) 2020 and addresses other related Medicare policies. The changes outlined in the final rule apply to Medicare Part B services furnished on or after January 1, 2020. Below, AADE has highlighted key provisions from the final rule that may be of interest to AADE members. Additional information can be found on the CMS fact sheet and in this CMS presentation . Payment Conversion Factor CMS finalized the CY 2020 MPFS conversion factor is $36.09, a slight ...
1 comment

The Aha! Moment

1 person recommends this.
Today I was asked to teach a high school student who attends a healthcare track program at her school. The purpose was to provide her with an overview of what I do so that she can better decide if she should pursue a career in healthcare. Because she was HIPAA cleared to learn more about the patients, I decided to 'work through' the chart of a patient that had popped upon my list. As I went through the chart and was showing her how I use the EMR, we looked at the H & P, past visits, outpatient visits, prior to admission meds, current meds and dosages, looked for meds that would contribute to hyper or hypoglycemia, facesheet review for all of the social ...
2 comments

AADE 19 Thoughts

1 person recommends this.
It’s hard to believe that we are at the end of September! August flew by with the excitement of Texas hosting AADE 19 and I hope anyone able to attend left motivated and proud to be a Diabetes Care and Education Specialist! I asked a couple of members to share their thoughts regarding their AADE experience and I encourage anyone who feels compelled to share their own in the comments below. “I am so energized after attending AADE19! My favorite event was the CB/COI Networking Event on Thursday evening where Betsy and Brett, two of our Texas leaders, put together a Texas photo booth that was very popular and gave me to opportunity to learn how to use Snapchat ...
0 comments
2 people recommend this.
If you ever have the chance to work on a project with Joy Cornthwaite LD RD CDE MS of Houston, you will understand why she was named "Joy"! She brings a sense of passion and excitement to everything she does! Her work with Cities Changing Diabetes has been integral to the successful development of diabetes programs for the city of Houston and our Houston area LNG is proud that she is one of our own! As she holds her reign this year, we will look forward to her guidance and leadership and we will strive to keep pace with her 'joyful' enthusiasm! Thank you Joy Cornthwaite Texas Diabetes Educator of the Year 2019!
1 comment

The time is NOW!

1 person recommends this.
Do you have your Diabetes Disaster Checklist ready to hand out to your patients? Hurricane season started June 1 and currently “Barry” is trying to form in the Gulf! The National Hurricane Center is monitoring an area of thunderstorms in Georgia that is expected to move south into the most northeast portion of the Gulf of Mexico Tuesday morning. The classified disturbance is currently called "Invest 92L" and if it becomes a named storm it will be called Barry. It’s time that we be aware and should start to prepare! Please share! Check out other resources on Diabetes Disaster Response Coalition site at https://www.diabetesdisasterresponse.org/resources ...
1 comment
Be the first person to recommend this.
Reposting Kellie's Blog - this is important and now is the time to get engaged to help move us forward! The Vision for the Specialty is: To drive outcomes through the integration of diabetes clinical management, education, prevention and support. There are 6 associated strategies to drive the vision : Drive Integration: The integration of diabetes clinical management, self-management, prevention and support. Leverage Technology: To drive diabetes care, education and support - includes technology in the areas of diabetes devices and healthcare delivery. Behavioral Health: The promotion and integration of behavioral ...
0 comments