Course Overview
Many primary care physicians are hesitant to initiate insulin due to lack of training or experience which may result in delaying transition from oral therapies to insulin. We know that early and effective insulin interventions are associated with health benefits such as inhibition of glucotoxicity, preservation of beta cell function and decreased risk of microvascular complications such as nephropathy and retinopathy, and protection against endothelial damage.
Primary care physicians must be able address their own reluctance to start insulin as well as the patients’ resistance to insulin and recognize indications for various types of insulin, dosing and titration. Patients need to be counseled on proper injection techniques, storage & expiration of insulin, the impact of diet and exercise on insulin management as well as needle disposal. In addition, treatment plans should address common side effects such as weight gain as well as safety measures such as medical alert bracelets, glucagon prescriptions/directions, signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia and treatment.
Learning Objectives
•Review of insulin management including recognizing characteristics of different types of insulin such as onset, peak and duration, indications for both basal and bolus insulin, delivery methods, and initiation & titration of basal and bolus insulin.
•Outline clinically applicable tips such as important information on how and where to inject, impact of diet and exercise on blood sugars and insulin needs, storage and expiration of insulin, and needle disposal.
•Highlight common side effects such as weight gain as well as safety measures such as medical alert bracelets, signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia and treatment including use of glucagon.
Example Curriculum
About the Instructor
Dr. Reese Pellegrini earned their doctorate in naturopathic medicine from Bastyr University in 2010 and completed three years of residency at Bastyr’s teaching clinic, Bastyr Center for Natural Health (BCNH), including serving as Chief Resident. Dr. Pellegrini currently serves as an Associate Professor at Bastyr University and Director of the Diabetes and Cardiovascular Wellness Clinic. They work as a clinical supervisor training medical students to be primary care physicians as well as a didactic instructor on diabetes and cardiovascular disease. They have had an opportunity to speak on both the national and international level and are passionate about improving access to high quality education for integrative providers.
