Diabetes Guidelines for Elderly Residents in Long-Term Care Facilities Pocket Reference
The Diabetes Care Program of Nova Scotia (DCPNS) is pleased to announce the launch of Diabetes Guidelines for Elderly Residents in Long-Term Care (LTC) Facilities in Nova Scotia. These guidelines provide safe and standardized diabetes care (targets for glycemic control and treatment of hypoglycemia) for frail elderly residents. You may find that the recommendations in the Pocket Reference may not be the usual practice in your facility; however, please review these with the supporting document.
Copies of the Pocket Reference as well as the supporting materials have been distributed province-wide to all LTC facilities (May 2010). If additional copies are required, please contact the DCPNS office or download and copy the following documents as needed.
    - Diabetes Guidelines for Elderly Residents in Long-Term Care Pocket Reference
    - DCPNS LTC Diabetes Guidelines—Background
    - Telehealth Presentation Slides
    - Frequently Asked Questions

On April 1, 2010, the DCPNS hosted a telehealth session for LTC facility staff and diabetes educators to review and explain the rationale for the guidelines. The telehealth session was recorded and will be available soon.

In the near future, we plan to develop additional diabetes guidelines for elderly residents in LTC facilities - stay tuned!

DCPNS February 2010 Newsletter
The most recent edition of the DCPNS newsletter is now available for viewing or download.  Feel free to circulate to other health care professionals with an interest in diabetes or encourage others to visit our website.  If you have any questions or comments, contact our office by e-mail (dcpns@diabetescareprogram.ns.ca) or phone (473-3219).

DCPNS Spring 2010 Workshop
A sincere thank you to those of you that attended our spring workshop held at Pier 21 April 15 & 16, 2010. We would also like to acknowledge and thank our workshop participants as well as our industry partners. Without the support of all of you, we would not be able to deliver such a successful program.

A number of our guest speakers have graciously given us permission to post their presentations. Please click on the "Program" link to access (view or download) copies of the available presentations.

We look forward to seeing you all again next spring for our 20th Anniversary celebration.

DCPNS Annual Report - 2008/09
The 2008/09 DCPNS Annual Report highlights a number of key activities/initiatives helping to move the Program forward to achieve its goals as identified in the DCPNS Strategic Plan (2008-2010) - documentation forms and guidelines revisions, data quality improvement, and new partnerships. The DCPNS will continue to reach out to new care providers, as the Program strives to ensure the best possible quality care for the people affected by or at risk of developing diabetes.

DCPNS Patient & Provider Foot Care Resources
Finally! They have been a long time coming but now the Patient & Provider Foot Care tools are completed, printed, and ready for delivery to Diabetes Centres in Nova Scotia.
The forms include:
    - Foot Care Questionnaire
    - Foot Risk Assessment Form (colour, black and white)
    - Risk Stratification Form
    - Referral Algorithm
    - Patient Risk Information Sheets (Low, Moderate, High)
    - Patient Foot Care Path
    - DCPNS Foot Risk Assessment Form Guide
These Diabetic Foot Care Resources are part of a province-wide initiative to address the growing burden of diabetic foot problems and related lower extremity amputations in Nova Scotia. Use of these forms will result in an increased awareness of the diabetic foot, early detection of foot problems, and timely referral to the right foot care provider so the right treatment/management can be provided.

DCPNS is promoting and anticipating uptake of these forms by a variety of foot care providers across multiple health care sectors. This will ensure consistent messaging around foot care to individuals with diabetes and among foot care providers; so please share this information.

The DCPNS would like to thank everyone who has contributed in any way to the development/revision of these forms. Your valuable input was vital to the successful outcome of these foot care resources.