Module 3: Insulin

Module 3 Overview

Rationale for this Module

Module 3 of the Diabetes Care in the Community for Support Workers Course will provide participants with an overview of the management, support and administration of insulin by a support worker. It is required because certificate courses training people to become a support worker do not include insulin management.

There has been a misconception across Australia that it is illegal for support workers to administer insulin. This is not true. As unregistered workers, support workers can be trained to provide personal support to address the individual needs of clients. Those with diabetes who require insulin injections can participate in quality professional development to learn how to safely administer or support their client to have their insulin. It is then the responsibility of the organisation to delegate the care to the support workers with the appropriate policy/procedure infrastructure in place. This Module module provides support workers with the knowledge and skills to support and administer insulin to an individual with diabetes who requires assistance due to the impact of any functional deficits associated with their disability. It also gives the employing organisation the confidence that a quality approach to the acquisition of this knowledge and skillset for delegation of care consideration by their managers.

While this Module provides quality education for support workers in the use, storage, administration, side effects and support of individuals to have their insulin injections it does not confer a delegation of insulin management/support/administration or care by the author or EdHealth Australia and its representatives. It is the responsibility of the employing agency to delegate insulin administration to each support worker, based on their assessment of their capacity to do so safely. It is also the responsibility of the organisation to provide quality policies, procedures, care plans to support the delegation of care. The course does provide a quality approach to the education of support workers including the knowledge and skills required to administer insulin, support individuals with their self care and identify, treat and prevent the potential side effect of insulin, hypoglycaemia.

Module aim

To provide support workers with the knowledge and skills required to support or administer insulin safely in people with a disability and diabetes  and are able to identify, treat and prevent hypoglycaemia in these individuals.

Pre-requisites

• Successful completion of the employing organisation’s Medication Management course.

• Successful completion of EdHealth Australia’s:
  • Diabetes Care in the Community Overview of diabetes care module and quiz.
  • Diabetes Care in the Community – Blood glucose monitoring module and quiz.

At the completion of the Module you will be able to:

1. State the role of insulin in the body.
2. Identify why a person with diabetes will need insulin treatment.
3. Describe the role of the National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS) in supplying equipment to people on insulin.
4. Describe how the Credentialled Diabetes Educator can help a person on insulin.
5. Display a safe and accurate technique to administer or support an individual with their  insulin.
6. State the eight rights of medication mangement and their role in insulin administration.
7. State the reason why the site of injections are moved around the abdomen every injection.
8. State how to safely store the in-use and spare insulin disposable pens/cartridges.
9. Describe how to prevent needle-stick injuries from used insulin pen needles.
10. Describe the emergency treatment of a needle-stick injury if it occurs.
11. Describe ways to encourage a person with intellectual disability to be as actively involved in their diabetes care, to the best of their ability.
12. State the definition of hypoglycaemia.
13. Identify which diabetes medications can cause serious hypoglycaemia as a side effect.
14. Describe the importance of addressing the three phases of hypoglycaemia management: identification, treatment and prevention of hypoglycaemia.
15. Describe the range of symptoms an individual can display when hypoglycaemic.
16. Identify 5 potential fast acting glucose treatments for hypoglycaemia.
17. Identify 5 potential lower glycaemic index treatments to give a person to follow-up their fast acting glucose treatment for hypoglycaemia.
18. Treat a person’s hypoglycaemia if conscious or uncooperative/unconscious.
19. Identify the reasons why a person can have a hypoglycaemic event and the actions required to help prevent hypoglycaemia.
20. Understand that a comprehensive diabetes care plan will include a hypoglycaemia management plan.
21. State the role of accurate blood glucose monitoring in the management and prevention of hypoglycaemia.
22. State when to call 000 for an ambulance to help them in the treatment of a person with hypoglycaemia.
23. Describe how to get the supplies required for a person’s insulin management.
24. Pack an appropriate Hypo Kit for a person to take out with them if at risk of hypoglycaemia.
25. Identify when to take a person with diabetes for a medical review in relation to their hypoglycaemia.

Lessons in the Insulin Support and Administration Module:

Lesson 1: Why do some people need insulin?

Lesson 2: How to give insulin?

Lesson 3: Hypoglycaemia

Instructions: It is recommended that participants complete the lessons in order. Click on the link at the bottom of this page to go to Lesson 1. Each lesson begins by outlining the aim and list of expected outcomes from completing the lesson.

To do the lessons, work your way through each step. A range of icons indicate  the way the content is presented.

End of Module 3 Quiz

The link to the End of Module  Quiz will be found  in Lesson 3.

Successful completion of the course: Once you have completed all of the lessons in the Module click on the link to the quiz at the end of each lesson.  A score of 80% or above is required to pass the final quiz. A certificate is available to print as evidence of your successful completion of the Module once you successfully pass the Module’s Final Quiz. Please show this to your Manager as proof of completing the course.

• Insulin administration practical session

You will be attending an Online Skills Session with one of the EdHealth Credentialled Diabetes Educators to have your technique using the blood glucose meter evaluated. Each participant will be asked to demonstrate their BGM technique using the meter to see if they are using it accurately.

The procedure/audit tool form for the insulin device will guide you when learning how to use the device and also to prepare for the evaluation of your technique during the Online Skills Session.

Make sure you print-off the procedure/audit form, read it through a number of times and practice the technique until you feel confident. The Credentialled Diabetes Educators will use this form to evaluate your technique during the on-line video session.

Practice your insulin injection technique – but do not give your client an injection until you have passed the whole course.

Evaluation Survey

At the end of Module 2 your last step is to complete a feedback survey on your experience of this Module. This helps us to keep the course running smoothly and continually improve it to address the needs of support workers.

Click to start Lesson 1 of Module 3 in table below.