The Nurses Role as Diabetes Educators

Diabetes is a chronic disease with both short- and long-term severe complications which can usually be prevented or delayed. These complications often affect the patient’s quality of life and are associated with significant healthcare costs. Educating diabetic patients has great value in improving their condition through improved management and control of the disease as well as preventing other severe morbidities.

The diabetic nurse has a central role in the multidisciplinary diabetes management team. This role generally involves coordinating patient care, monitoring compliance to treatment protocols and education on new therapeutic technologies, and preventing diabetic complications.

To acquire in-depth and up-to-date knowledge and skills in treating both acute and chronic conditions of diabetes and improving the quality of life of diabetic patients.

Ms. Sari Dabahi NP, MA

Sari Dabahi is a Diabetes Nurse Practitioner at Sheba Medical Center and a member of the Israeli Ministry of Health advisory board. She holds a cross-functional role in promoting and implementing the subject of diabetes care in medical centers throughout Israel.

Sari completed her B.A. at Tel Aviv University, a Master of Nursing at Ben-Gurion University, and presently completing her MBA studies, majoring in pharma.

Since 2014, Sari has remained dedicated to guiding and counseling patients, families, and medical staff on diabetes management and improving patient quality of life. As part of her activities, Sari prepares cross-functional protocols for quality measurements of blood glucose values among hospitalized patients.

Sahi previously served as head nurse of the Endocrinology Clinic at Sheba Medical Center. In 2006, she led the first national course for diabetes nurses in Israel, continuing to coordinate this course annually, as well as teaching and working as a clinical instructor at Sheba’s academic school of nursing.

• The history of diabetes
• The assessment of diabetic patients
• Principles of monitoring sugar with a glucometer and injection with insulin
• Principles of management with a continuous glucose monitor
• Principles of treatment with an insulin pump
• Pathophysiology: Insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome
• Epidemiology of Type I Diabetes
• Epidemiology of Type II Diabetes
• Obesity and diabetes
• Gestational diabetes
• Diabetic management in the hospitalized patient
• Physical exercise and its importance
• Nutrition for diabetes
• Type I Diabetes
• Treating children with Type I Diabetes
• Stroke
• Diabetic foot
• Diabetic nephropathy
• Diabetic retinopathy
• Treating hypoglycemia
• States of emergency: Metabolic acidosis and a hyperosmolar state
• Outpatient clinic management of the diabetic patient
• Responsiveness to treatment