The Diabetes Survival Bundle is focused on the American Association of Diabetes Educators (AADE) 7 Self-Care BehaviorsTM, which are aimed at engaging patients to eat healthy, be active, monitor their sugars, take their medications, problem solve, and reduce their risk for complications. This bundle may be particularly useful for those being seen after a hospital discharge, or for an individual who is being seen after being out of care. Consider including the following patient education handouts.
Plan Your Portions
This handout of a placemat includes pictures of food options to go in each macronutrient portion of the plate. It is available from the American Diabetes Association (ADA).
Symptoms and Treatment of Hypoglycemia and Hyperglycemia
These handouts are written for low literacy patients, using caricatures to depict the symptoms of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia. The handouts include recommended actions. They are available in multiple languages from Scripps.
Tips for Being Active With Diabetes
This handout explains how to get started with activity and recommended duration. It gives examples of physical activities and discusses safety considerations for exercising with diabetes. It is available from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
Tracking Blood Glucose
What Can I Eat?
This simple, one-page handout lists carb-containing foods and low carb foods and includes pictures. The food label is shown, and it includes a 1-day sample meal plan. It is available from Learning About Diabetes.
What Is Diabetes?
This simple, one-page handout lists carb-containing foods and low carb foods and includes pictures. The food label is shown, and it includes a 1-day sample meal plan. It is available from Learning About Diabetes.
What To Do If You are Sick
This handout is simple and easy to read. It instructs the patient on what is appropriate to eat and drink when they are ill. It also indicates symptoms which may be suggestive of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and when to seek care. It is available in multiple languages from Scripps.
The Medication Bundle is separated for patients on oral medications and patients on insulin.
For patients on oral medication, consider including the following patient education handouts.
Blood Glucose Log
This is a two-week log, which includes before and after meal-time slots, a medication log, and notes section. It is available from the American Diabetes Association (ADA).
Learning About Diabetes Medications
Symptoms and Treatment of Hypoglycemia and Hyperglycemia
These handouts are written for low literacy patients, using caricatures to depict the symptoms of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia. The handouts include recommended actions. They are available in multiple languages from Scripps.
Testing Your Blood Sugar
This handout explains reasons for testing. It also gives suggestions for checking sugars for non-insulin dependent people and recommendations for insulin dependent people with diabetes (paired testing and testing before meals and bedtime). In addition, it includes general directions with pictures of how to check blood sugar using a meter. It is available in multiple languages from Scripps.
Tracking Blood Glucose
Blood Glucose Log
This is a two-week log, which includes before and after meal-time slots, a medication log, and notes section. It is available from the American Diabetes Association (ADA).
Container Options for Used Sharps
This handout defines a “sharp,” includes pictures of appropriate containers to dispose of needles and lancets, and instruction on disposal. It is specific to Ohio from Safe Needle Disposal.
Diabetes Alert Card
This foldable wallet card, which includes symptoms of hypoglycemia, recommended actions to treat, and allows for the patient to enter their emergency contact information. It is available from the American Diabetes Association (ADA).
Giving Yourself Insulin
Learning About Diabetes Medications
Symptoms and Treatment of Hypoglycemia and Hyperglycemia
Testing Your Blood Sugar
Tracking Blood Glucose
Foot Care Instructions
This two-page handout includes large pictures and simple text recommending actions to improve foot care. It is available from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.