This module provides the opportunity for you to gain a comprehensive understanding of the classification, presentation and diagnosis of diabetes, 'pre-diabetes' and disorders of glucose metabolism and to evaluate the implications of these diagnoses. You will explore diagnostic tests, clinical management plans, the pathophysiology, aetiology and risk factors of diabetes and the complimentary roles of healthcare professionals, other professionals and patients.

Critical appraisal of research evidence is an important part of your studies for this module, to inform and support the ways in which you engage in clinical and/or lifestyle management for people with diabetes.

Syllabus Content

• Epidemiology, diagnosis and screening of diabetes and disorders of glucose metabolism
• Classification and presentation
• Physiology
• Pathophysiology
• Pre-diabetes, prediction and prevention
• Lifestyle intervention – nutrition and physical activity
• Structured education and self-management

This module provides the opportunity for you to appraise past, current and emerging therapies in the management of people with diabetes. This will include a range of pharmaceutical / therapeutic agents, risk modification interventions, insulin therapies, obesity management and surgery. The module will also explore emerging therapies relevant to the management of diabetes.

Critical appraisal of research evidence is an important part of your studies for this module, to inform and support the ways in which you engage in clinical and/or lifestyle management for people with diabetes.

Syllabus Content

• Older Hypoglycaemic Agents
• Newer non-insulin based therapies – incretins, SGLT-2 inhibitors
• Cardiovascular risk modification
• Insulin therapy in type 2 diabetes
• Insulin in type 1 diabetes
• Adverse Effects of anti-diabetic therapies
• Emerging therapies
• Obesity management and bariatric surgery

Macrovascular disease in diabetes as significant impact in relation to the individual and society. It is therefore important that strategies for the management of cardiovascular risk factors in diabetes are effective and the module will provide opportunities to develop and such strategies. It will also explore the development of strategies for the management of ischaemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, peripheral vascular disease and erectile dysfunction in diabetes. You will assess international guidelines on the treatment of hypertension, cholesterol and anti-platelet therapy.

An important part of learning on the module is for you to critique medical literature and justify clinical practice decisions derived from evidence-based medicine.

Syllabus Content

• Epidemiology and Statistics
• The Impact of Hypertension
• Treatment of hypertension 1
• Renin–angiotensin system
• Cholesterol
• Aspirin, antiplatelet therapy and smoking
• The heart and diabetes
• Macrovascular disease

The module aims covers the physiology of insulin therapies and insulin delivery systems, related pharmacokinetics and current guidelines for insulin management. You will also explore professional and patient-related barriers to insulin therapy, requirements and practical considerations for insulin initiation in type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Following the module you should be in a position to confidently make recommendations regarding insulin therapy and to develop patient guidance for insulin dose adjustments.

An important part of learning on the module is for you to critique medical literature and justify clinical practice decisions derived from evidence-based medicine.

Syllabus Content

• Physiology of insulin secretion
• Pharmakokinetics of insulin therapies insulin delivery mechanisms
• Practical considerations for insulin initiation
• Dose titration
• Self-monitoring
• Side effects of insulin treatment, including hypoglycaemia, insulin oedema, weight gain, lipohypertrophy and lipoatrophy

An important part of learning on the module is for you to critique medical literature and justify clinical practice decisions derived from evidence-based medicine. The module also aims to assist you when evaluating, designing, developing or implementing local clinical practice guidelines in relation to diabetes.

Syllabus Content

• Primary, intermediate and secondary care settings for the delivery of diabetes care
• Role of information technology in integrating diabetes care
• Self-management & structured education strategies in diabetes
• Diabetes care pathways and referral criteria
• Primary prevention of macrovascular disease
• Clinical management pathways for diabetes foot care
• Pre-conceptual care and gestational diabetes
• Elderly care in diabetes

The Pregnancy and Diabetes module is a 10-week course which aims to provide students with a thorough understanding of all aspects of diabetes in pregnancy from preconception counselling to post-partum care; this module will provide students with a thorough understanding of real issues within their practice. This programme includes a two-week introduction phase where students will be able to access exclusive lectures and Cardiff University’s extensive library facilities prior to the start of the module.

Syllabus Content

• The risks of pregnancy in diabetes for the mother and baby, the reasons for the adverse outcomes and the national audit data and guidelines for diabetes in pregnancy
• Preconception counselling to a woman with diabetes, understanding issues relating to glycaemic control, folic acid, the interaction of pregnancy and complications of diabetes, teratogenic medication and appropriate medication regimes
• The management of pregnancy in the first trimester, the risks of hypoglycaemia and management of this
• The impact of glycaemia on miscarriage rates
• Management of the second and third trimester to recognise, prevent and manage complications and how to monitor foetal growth
• Management of diabetes during different delivery methods
• Postpartum care and management of diabetes during breastfeeding
• The use of insulin pump therapy in pregnancy, continuous glucose monitoring in pregnancy and use of closed loops
• The issues of type 2 diabetes in pregnancy
• The classification of gestational diabetes using the different criteria and the impact of the different criteria on the prevalence
• Screening for gestational diabetes
• Management gestational diabetes
• Post-partum care to detect and prevent type 2 diabetes
• The long-term implications of gestational diabetes for the mother and baby

This module provides the opportunity for you to explore knowledge and skills assisting in the recognition and management of complications in diabetes. This includes an awareness of and ability to evaluate current standards and recommendations of care in diabetes.

An important part of learning on the module is for you to critique medical literature and justify clinical practice decisions derived from evidence-based medicine. The module also aims to assist you when evaluating, designing, developing or implementing local clinical practice guidelines in relation to diabetes.

Syllabus Content

• Screening for microvascular and macrovascular complications
• Pathophysiology and management of:
  • Retinopathy
  • Foot disease
  • Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease
  • Peripheral arterial disease
  • Neuropathy
  • Hypertension and nephropathy
  • Sexual health
  • Hypoglycaemia and hyperglycaemic emergencies

Diabetes care in children and young people presents specific, complex considerations that health professionals need to recognise and evaluate both generally and within their own professional settings. The module aims to enable you to distinguish the different types of diabetes that can occur in children and young persons. It explores the development and evaluation of related strategies for education, nutritional therapy, clinical management and self-management for children and young persons with diabetes. An important aspect of this is to evaluate the medical literature concerning acute diabetes complications and chronic complications. The module aims to help you design models of the care for children and young persons including transitional services, school support, social and physiological support.

Syllabus Content

• Diagnosis & Epidemiology
• Classification
• Education, Nutrition
• Therapy & Self-Management
• Acute complications
• Chronic Complications
• Delivery of care, Psychological and Social aspects

• Recognise and evaluate the complex considerations for diabetes care in the elderly
• Distinguish functional categories of older individuals with diabetes
• Evaluate special circumstances for the elderly and implications for therapeutic interventions
• Develop strategies for management of end of life care in diabetes
• Be aware of and evaluate current standards and recommendations of care in diabetes to design and develop local clinical practice guidelines.
• Critique medical literature & justify clinical practice decisions derived from evidence-based medicine
• Develop and maintain a network of experienced clinical teachers

Syllabus Content

• Rationale for diabetes care in the elderly
• Functional categories of older people with diabetes
• Screening, diagnosis and prevention
• Nutritional assessment and therapy
• Adverse effects of pharmacological therapies
• Cardiovascular risk management and safety considerations
• Individualising glycaemic targets and role of self-monitoring
• Special considerations including hypoglycaemia, falls, pain management, care homes
• End of life care

• Recognise and manage diabetes in acute illness circumstances during in-hospital admission
• Be aware of and evaluate current standards and recommendations of care in diabetes to design and develop local clinical practice guidelines
• Develop and maintain a network of experienced clinical teachers

Syllabus Content

• Hypoglycaemia
• Diabetic ketoacidosis and hyperosmolar hyperglycaemic syndrome
• Peri-operative management of diabetes
• Glycaemic management in acute illness
• Enteral feeding
• In-patient diabetes teams
• Safety in hospital and educational considerations for healthcare professionals

The Insulin Pump Therapy module is a 10-week course which aims to provide students with a thorough understanding of all aspects of insulin pumps from the historical perspective to dealing with complications. This course includes a two-week introduction phase where students will be able to access exclusive lectures and Cardiff University’s extensive library facilities prior to the start of the module.

Syllabus Content

• Historical perspective of insulin pump treatment
• Evidence for outcome of insulin pump therapy
• National guidance for insulin pump therapy
• Patient selection and preparation for insulin pump therapy
• Equipment, pump functions and use
• Calculating insulin doses and altering insulin doses via an insulin pump
• Managing hyperglycaemia and hypoglycaemia
• Managing exercise, illness, stress and surgery with an insulin pump
• Managing pregnancy with an insulin pump
• Evidence for and use of continual glucose monitoring and sensor augmented pump therapy
• Managing patients failing on pumps including pancreas transplant and islet cell transplants

Diabetic foot disease has significant impact on both the individual and within the community.

The module aims to enable you to distinguish the contributing pathologies of diabetic foot disease and develop strategies for screening for diabetic foot disease. It will also explore strategies for evaluating and treating peripheral vascular disease. Another key focus will be the creation of local clinical practice guidelines for the recognition and management of diabetic foot conditions.

An important part of learning on the module is for you to critique medical literature and justify clinical practice decisions derived from evidence-based medicine.

The aim is also to help develop and maintain a network of experienced clinical teachers and provide opportunities for you to develop your leadership, team-working, communication, evaluation and creativity so as to effectively solve problems and communicate important concepts and decisions.

Syllabus Content

• Introduction/Epidemiology
• Neuropathy
• PVD
• Ulcers
• Infections
• Pressure relief and deformity
• Charcot Foot
• Emerging therapies