Tools for Health Professionals

The Brehm Center Systems Biology Repository

The Brehm Center Systems Biology Repository is a one-stop online portal providing free and open access to the computer source code and high-resolution datasets from published, peer-reviewed papers in basic and clinical diabetes research. This body of information and knowledge is currently distributed among a large number of different publications and applied to very specific basic science problems or particular clinical situations. Mathematical and computational models are implemented in standard computer model languages to ensure their preservation. More importantly, models are curated to ensure that they accurately reproduce the published results.

Guide to Culturally Specific Retinopathy Screening

Diabetes is the leading cause of new blindness among adults in the United States. Lack of regular eye exams contributes significantly to this problem. Because of the increased prevalence of diabetes and lack of access to healthcare, many African Americans are at increased risk for developing diabetic retinopathy. The MDRC has collaborated with local agencies to offer free, community-based, eye-disease screening clinics. This project has proven to be effective in identifying and referring African Americans with diabetes who need treatment for retinopathy and other eye diseases.

This manual describes the steps needed to develop and conduct community-based, diabetes eye-disease screening clinics. It describes how we collaborated with local agencies to gain sponsor support, recruited physicians and staff, and also describes operational details of planning and implementing an eye-disease screening clinic. This manual also contains sample administrative forms and supply lists as well as a timeline to help plan a screening clinic.

References

1. Anderson RM, Wolf FM, Musch DC, et al. Conducting community-based, culturally specific, eye-disease screening clinics for urban African Americans with diabetes. (In Press, Ethnicity & Disease, July, 2002).
2. Anderson RM, Musch DC, Nwankwo RB, et al. Personalized follow-up increases return rate at urban eye disease screening clinics for African Americans with diabetes: Results of a randomized trial. (In Press, Ethnicity & Disease.)

For more information contact Bob Anderson (boba@umich.edu) or Robin Nwankwo (diet@umich.edu)

Diabetes Complications Risk Profile

The Diabetes Complications Risk Profile was designed to help patients understand the meaning of the results obtained as part of their annual assessment as delineated by the American Diabetes Association Standards of Care. Recommended or normal levels are provided along with a brief, easy to read explanation of each level or result. Behaviors that could make a difference in their future results are also included on the profile. The behaviors are based on current evidence and are written in user-friendly language. This risk profile can be used during individual clinical or educational sessions or group sessions to provide feedback to patients and lead into a discussion of goal-setting. One very effective method for using the risk profile in patient education is to hand out the profile (with each patients values on the form) in class. Give participants a few minutes to read over their individual profiles and then ask- “Does anyone have any questions?”. When we have used this strategy it has always resulted in a lively patient directed discussion. This approach has taught us that “Patients are not interested in diabetes, patients are interested in THEIR diabetes.

Diabetes Concerns Assessment Form 

Because of the critical importance of self-management in diabetes, behavioral and psychosocial concerns greatly affect the outcomes patients are able to achieve. Before these issues can be addressed, they must first be identified by the patient and communicated to the health care professionals who provide their care and education. The Diabetes Concerns Assessment Form was designed to assist health professionals to assess patients’ behavioral and psychosocial concerns so that these needs can be addressed both efficiently and effectively. This instrument was designed for patients to complete prior to either an individual or group office visit or diabetes education program. The Diabetes Concerns Assessment Form Guidelines document provides strategies health professionals can use to respond to and address the behavioral and psychosocial issues identified in the assessment document.

Curricula, Books, and Videos

Curricula

The Michigan Diabetes Research Center has developed a curriculum which can be used to design and implement diabetes self-management education. This Curriculum meets current Standards for Diabetes Self-Management Education and is published and distributed by the American Diabetes Association (ADA). Clicking on the title will link you directly with the ADA virtual bookstore where this material is described more fully and can be ordered on-line.

Life with Diabetes: A Series of Teaching Outlines, 3rd edition

Books

The Art of Empowerment: Stories and Strategies for Diabetes Educators
Authors: Bob Anderson, Martha Funnell
Based on extensive experience and research in the area of patient empowerment, this book is written to help educators create partnerships with patients through stories and questions for reflection. The book is designed to be used for self-study by individuals or groups of educators and is published by the American Diabetes Association (ADA). Clicking on the title will link you directly with the ADA virtual bookstore where this book can be ordered on-line.

101 Tips for Diabetes Self-Management Education
Author(s): Martha Funnell, MS, RN, CDE, Robert M. Anderson, EdD, Nugget Burkhart, RN, MA , CPNP, CDE, Mary Lou Gillard, MS, RN, CDE, Robin Nwankwo, MPH, RD, CDE
This book contains a series of tips for providing self-management education for people who have diabetes. Tips are included for both individual and group teaching and across the patient's lifespan. The information in these tips reflects the philosophy, experiences and practice of the diabetes educators at the MDRC. This book is published by the American Diabetes Association (www.diabetes.org).
Clicking on the title will link you directly with the ADA virtual bookstore where this book can be ordered on-line.

101 Tips for Behavior Change in Diabetes Education
Author(s): Martha Funnell, MS, RN, CDE, Robert M. Anderson, EdD, Nugget Burkhart, RN, MA , CPNP, CDE, Mary Lou Gillard, MS, RN, CDE, Robin Nwankwo, MPH, RD, CDE
This book contains a series of tips for facilitating self-directed behavior change with people who have diabetes. Tips are included for patients across their lifespan who are facing a wide array of psychosocial and behavior change challenges. The information in these tips reflects the philosophy, experiences and practice of the diabetes educators at the MDRC. This book is published by the American Diabetes Association (www.diabetes.org).
Clicking on the title will link you directly with the ADA virtual bookstore where this book can be ordered on-line.

Medical Management of Type 2 Diabetes, 5th edition
Editor: Charles F. Burant, MD, PhD
Recent critical advances in the pharmacology of diabetes therapy allow health care professionals to focus on measures that will reverse the underlying metabolic disturbances in type 2 diabetes. In this new edition of a classic text, diabetes care experts present the complete picture of the progressive nature of type 2 diabetes, which will enhance your knowledge of type 2 and skills in caring for your patients. This book is published by the American Diabetes Association (www.diabetes.org).
Clicking on the title will link you directly with the ADA virtual bookstore where this book can be ordered on-line.

Videos

An Overview of the Alliance to Reduce Disparities in Diabetes

A Bridge between Communities: The Detroit Community - Academic Urban Research Center

Reducing Diabetes Disparities in American Indian Communities (Wyoming)

Diabetes for Life (Memphis, TN)

The Diabetes Equity Project (Dallas, TX)

Improving Diabetes Care and Outcomes on the South Side of Chicago (Illinois)

The Camden Citywide Diabetes Collaborative (New Jersey)

Living with Diabetes: Challenges in the African American Community (published 2000)

This video presents a series of vignettes that depict challenges faced by African Americans as they care for their diabetes on a daily basis. The vignettes are intended to provoke problem-solving discussions among participants in diabetes self-management education programs or support groups. An instructor's guide with discussion questions is included. This videotape is available from the American Diabetes Association (ADA). Clicking on the title will link you directly with the ADA virtual bookstore where this program can be ordered on-line.

"Into the Heart of Darkness: Reflections on Racism and Diabetes Care"

Clicking on the link below will allow you to watch a video recording of a presentation made by Bob Anderson Ed.D. and Kimberlydawn Wisdom MD, MS on August 22, 1998 at the 25th annual meeting of the American Association of Diabetes Educators in Minneapolis, Minnesota. During the presentation Bob and Kimberyldawn reflect on how their experiences growing up shaped their perceptions of race and racism; Bob as a white male in a blue collar, Irish Catholic, neighborhood in Boston and Kimberly as a black female in a predominately white community in Mystic, Connecticut. The presentation also describes how these experiences have influenced their approach to research designed to improve the diabetes care and education provided to urban African Americans with diabetes.
The video is divided into four segments which can be watched independently. The four segments are listed below.

1. "Growing Up White in America"
2. "Growing up Black in America"
3. "Black and White: All Relationships are Personal"
4. "Black and White: Closing the Health Care Gap"

References

1. Anderson RM, "Into the Heart of Darkness: Reflections on Racism and Diabetes Care" The Diabetes Educator 24(6) 689-692, 1998
2. Wisdom K, "The Healing Process: Reflections African American History and Diabetes Care" The Diabetes Educator 689-700,1998