Diabetes Awareness training
This annual refresher training covers the essential knowledge and skills you need to support residents with diabetes at the care setting. You will learn about the types of diabetes, how we assess and plan care, how to recognise and respond to complications like hypoglycaemia, and how we empower residents to manage their own condition wherever safely possible. This training is based on the care setting's Diabetes in care settings Policy and helps ensure we provide high quality, person centred care.
What This Training Covers
A clear, practical grounding in diabetes awareness.
This annual refresher training covers the essential knowledge and skills you need to support residents with diabetes at the care setting. You will learn about the types of diabetes, how we assess and plan care, how to recognise and respond to complications like hypoglycaemia, and how we empower residents to manage their own condition wherever safely possible. This training is based on the care setting's Diabetes in care settings Policy and helps ensure we provide high quality, person centred care.
Learning Outcomes
By the end, your staff will be able to:
What Your Team Will Learn
A closer look at the diabetes awareness module.
The module is built in short, practical sections. Each one teaches a part of the topic, then applies it to a real care scenario and checks understanding before moving on.
Understanding Diabetes and Its Types
Diabetes is a long term condition where there is too much glucose (sugar) in the blood because the body cannot produce enough insulin or use it properly. There are two main types. Type 1 diabetes is usually treated with insulin injections and diet changes. Type 2 diabetes is treated with lifestyle changes like healthier diet, weight loss and increased physical activity, plus medication or insulin if needed to restore normal blood glucose levels.
Assessment and Person Centred Care
Our policy follows person centred care principles. We assess each resident with diabetes to determine how much they can safely self care and what support they need. This assessment happens on admission or when diabetes develops during residency, working with the GP and any specialist services. The key principle of the Diabetes National Service Framework is empowering people with diabetes to look after themselves as far as safely possible. This enables residents to live with dignity, self determination and independence.
Levels of Support and Care Patterns
Our assessment identifies different patterns of care based on what each resident needs. Some residents may safely maintain full control of their diabetes from admission. Others may take partial control over some aspects and need support and monitoring by care staff. Some may need temporary support but will resume control as soon as possible. Finally, some residents are unable to take full control and we arrange for support and care to be provided by the care setting or specialist diabetes services. The assessment results go into the care plan.
Individual Care Plans and Key Components
Every person with diabetes at the care setting has an individual care plan agreed between the person (or relative), GP and care staff. The plan includes a designated key worker from our staff, a designated doctor (usually the GP), a specific dietary plan designed by a community dietician, a full medication list with dosage and frequency, arrangements for annual review, and measures to minimise complications. The plan also sets metabolic targets and agrees the level of blood glucose monitoring required. Residents are encouraged to play an active role in developing their own care plan.
Blood Glucose Monitoring and When Unwell
Most residents with diabetes take blood glucose levels at varying frequencies. They have their own testing machine and test strips prescribed by their GP. We support them in conducting tests at the frequency stated in their care plan and encourage them to maintain records. We monitor these results during reviews. Monitoring is especially important when a resident is unwell because diabetes can affect the illness and the illness can impact diabetes. Blood glucose can rise quickly during illness, particularly in older people who are dehydrated. Extra monitoring and medication adjustment may be needed.
Recognising and Managing Hypoglycaemia
Hypoglycaemia means low blood glucose and is a serious short term complication of diabetes. Signs can include feeling shaky, sweaty, confused, dizzy, hungry, or having a fast heartbeat. Every care plan must include details of exactly how to manage hypoglycaemia for that individual resident. Quick action is needed. Generally this involves giving fast acting sugar like glucose tablets or a sugary drink, then following with longer acting carbohydrate like a sandwich. Never leave someone alone during a hypoglycaemic episode. If they become unconscious, call 999 immediately.
Key Points Covered
The things your team must remember.
- Type 1 diabetes usually needs insulin injections while Type 2 is often managed with lifestyle changes and medication first
- We assess each resident to determine how much they can safely self care and support them to maintain control wherever possible
- Every diabetes care plan must include details of how to manage hypoglycaemia and what to do when the resident is unwell
- Blood glucose monitoring is especially important when a resident is unwell as illness can cause rapid changes
- Hypoglycaemia needs quick action: give fast acting sugar then longer acting carbohydrate, stay with the person, and call 999 if they become unconscious
- Each resident has an individual care plan agreed with them, their GP and care staff, including a designated key worker
Who and how often
Diabetes Awareness is refreshed every year, for the staff in your care setting whose roles require it.
CQC and standards
Supports the training evidence CQC expects to see for a well-run, safe care setting.
How CareStream Delivers It
Not a slideshow once a year. Training that sticks.
CareStream delivers diabetes awareness training in the hub your team already uses, grounded in best practice and your own policies, so it fits your care setting and not a generic template.
Teach, then assess
Short teaching sections and a real care scenario, then an assessment that checks understanding.
In any language
Staff complete it in over 60 languages, while your records stay in English.
Learn and retry
A wrong answer triggers a short follow-up lesson and a fresh question, so the gap is closed.
Renewals handled
Automatic reminders at 90, 30 and 7 days, with a live compliance dashboard.
FAQs
Frequently asked questions.
Give your team diabetes awareness training that actually sticks.
See how CareStream delivers your mandatory training in the hub, in any language.