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“What can I help you with today?” 

When asked this question, a client with type 1 diabetes may reply with any number of responses, calling for the dietitian to have a range of specific skills in:

• Teaching carb counting
• Hyper- and hypo-glycemia management
• Macronutrients and insulin dosing strategies
• Meal planning
• Insulin pumps
• Psychosocial and mental health challenges
• Coordinating multiple nutrition needs eg. pregnancy, coeliac disease, an eating disorder, foot ulcer and gastroparesis
• Glucose control for exercise

Living with type 1 diabetes is life-long and can be exhausting. This client has the dual experience of being the expert of their management and being at high risk of diabetes burnout. And while they are best placed to identify their health and life priorities, the dietitian plays a vital role in supporting that self-management.

Keep your skills up-to-date with Education in Nutrition’s type 1 diabetes resource here. PDF

Disordered eating and eating disorders in type 1 diabetes

Helen d'Emden, AdvAPD, CDE, MPhil

• Prevalence and contributing factors
• Consequences 
• Prevention 
• Screening and assessment 
• Interventions

Read a review of the presentation here

Psychosocial screening for type 1 diabetes

Helen d'Emden, AdvAPD, CDE, MPhil

• Diabetes management guidelines
• Psychosocial challenges for people with diabetes and effects on health outcomes
• Resources to guide psychosocial screening
• Example of a psychosocial screening tool
• Case studies

Read a review of the presentation here

Type 1 diabetes: Managing tricky meal combinations

Dr Carmel Smart, PhD, APD

• Counting Carb: Accuracy needed to prevent hyperglycaemia
• Multiple daily injections and Pump therapy: Insulin dosing strategies which work best for fat and protein
• Common meal behaviours in people achieving target BGLs

Read a review of the presentation here

Dietary considerations in T1DM pregnancies

Sally Marchini, APD

• The importance of pre-conception planning
• Awareness of other issues associated with pregnancy in T1D
• The differences in CHO counting/meal planning
• Focus for each of the three trimesters
• Focus post-birth

Read a review of the presentation here

Type 1 diabetes and exercise: case study

Steve Flint, APD, ASD

Tom is a 15yr old who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at 8yrs of age. He participates in athletics at a high level and plays AFL football. In this case, Steve describes individualising Tom’s BGL targets around Tom's realistic fear of hypoglycaemia when on the athletics track.

Read a review of the presentation here

Managing athletes who have type 1 diabetes

Steve Flint, APD, ASD

• Blood glucose targets for exercise
• Effects of different types of exercise on BGLs
• Combining both sports and diabetes nutrition knowledge 
• Working in a multidisciplinary team
• Understanding dietetic scope of practice and therapeutic boundaries
• Where to get professional training, supervision and support

Read a review of the presentation here

Gastroparesis and dysmotility disorders

Dr Sharon Carey, PhD, APD

• Definition, diagnosis and aetiology of dysmotility disorders, including gastroparesis
• Signs and symptoms of dysmotility disorders
• Exploration of comorbidities such as diabetes, coeliac disease and disordered eating
• Medical management including medications, and procedures, including gastric pacemakers.
• Nutritional management including oral, enteral and parenteral pathways as well as lifestyle considerations.

Read a review of the presentation here

Insulin pumps

Dr Carmel Smart, PhD, APD

• How insulin pumps work
• Insulin regimens and nutritional management
• What to teach a client commencing on an insulin pump
• Continuous glucose monitoring
• Troubleshooting insulin pumps

Read a review of the presentation here

Type 1 diabetes: case study

Robyn Perlstein, APD

Sophie is a 29 year old woman with type 1 diabetes. She was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 8. At 19 she developed coeliac disease and retinopathy. At 23 she was diagnosed with gastroparesis, IBS, lactose intolerance and a soy allergy. At 24 peripheral neuropathy, microalbuminuria, hyperferritinaemia and an eating disorder.

Hypoglycaemia in diabetes

Catherine Amadio, RN, CDE

• Glycaemic targets and monitoring blood sugar levels 
• Causes (decreased oral intake, change of medication regime or activity, food and stress)
• Management of hypoglycaemia, including emergency situations
• Follow-up care

Read a review of the presentation here

LADA: Latent Autoimmune Diabetes of Adulthood

Catherine Amadio, RN, CD

• Definition of LADA
• Diagnosis of LADA
• Features and traits of LADA
• How LADA is treated

Read a review of the presentation here

Nutrition and diabetic foot ulcers

Josephine Pizzinga, APD and Kate Hawkins, Podiatrist

• Definition, prevalence and implications of a diabetic foot ulcer
• Risk factors affecting wound healing and adequate nutrition
• The Role of the Podiatrist for diabetic foot ulcers:
  • Assessment and screening
  • Texas classification system
  • IPC Health High Risk Foot Clinic (HRFC)
• The Role of Dietitian in diabetic foot ulcers:
  • Nutritional screening and management
  • Evidence how to manage wounds/ulcers
• Things to consider when providing management:
  • Exudate
  • Hydration
  • Hyperglycaemia
  • Obese clients
  • Laboratory values
• How to work together in a multidisciplinary team
• Charcot and nutrition

Read a review of the presentation here

DAFNE- Dose Adjustment For Normal Eating

Eileen Collins, RN, CDE

A DAFNE (Dose Adjustment For Normal Eating) overview:

• What's new in DAFNE
• Blood glucose targets and the DAFNE diary
• How to apply carbohydrate counting in DAFNE
• How insulins work
• DAFNE case study

Type 1 diabetes and coeliac disease

Sally Marchini, APD

• Prevalence of type 1 diabetes and coeliac disease
• Specific issues for people with type 1 diabetes and coeliac disease
• Everyday practical tips
• Resources and continuing care