Table 1.

Checklist for Assessing MDI/Carbohydrate Counting (CHO) Knowledge and Skills.

GLUCOSE TARGETS

___ Can state his/her HbA1c target

___ Can state his/her fasting/preprandial glucose target

___ Can state his/her postprandial glucose target

KEY CONCEPTS/PRINCIPLES OF MDI

___ Can explain the concept and rationale for MDI therapy

___ Can explain the purpose of basal insulin

___ Can explain the purpose of mealtime bolus insulin

___ Can explain the purpose of correction bolus insulin

INSULIN-TO-CARBOHYDRATE RATIO (I:CHO)

___ Can explain the purpose of his/her I:CHO for calculating a mealtime bolus dose

___ Can state his/her I:CHO

___ Can explain the calculation of and process for using his/her I:CHO to calculate a mealtime bolus dose

___ Can explain how he/she adjusts his/her I:CHO

INSULIN SENSITIVITY FACTOR (ISF)

___ Can explain the purpose of his/her ISF/Correction Factor for correcting out-of-range BG

___ Can state his/her ISF/Correction Factor

___ Can explain the calculation of and process for using his/her ISF/Correction Factor to calculate a bolus dose prior to a meal

___ Can explain the calculation of and process for using his/her ISF/Correction Factor to calculate a bolus doses to correct high BG following a meal

___ Can explain how he/she adjusts his/her ISF/Correction Factor

SAFETY

___ Can list the potential causes of hypoglycemia

___ Can list and describe his/her symptoms of hypoglycemia

___ Can explain how to prevent hypoglycemia

___ Can explain how he/she should treat hypoglycemia if it occurs

___ Can list the potential causes of hyperglycemia

___ Can list and describe his/her symptoms of hyperglycemia

___ Can explain how to prevent hyperglycemia

___ Can explain how he/she should treat hyperglycemia if it occurs

___ Can list/explain his/her instructions for managing BG during illness

CARBOHYDRATE COUNTING

___ Can explain the concept and rationale for carbohydrate counting

___ Can explain the role of carbohydrates in providing energy and nutrition

___ Can identify the foods/food groups that contain carbohydrates

___ Can identify the food groups that do not contain carbohydrates

___ Can differentiate between simple carbohydrate foods and complex carbohydrate foods

___ Can describe a well-balanced meal—carbohydrates, protein, healthy fats

___ Can accurately estimate the number of carbohydrates in common foods

___ Can state the carbohydrate content of their chosen foods

___ Can explain what happens to BG when he/she underestimates number of carbohydrates to be eaten when calculating mealtime bolus dose

___ Can explain what happens to BG when he/she overestimates number of carbohydrates to be eaten when calculating mealtime bolus dose

Source: Adapted from assessment tools used in the ABACUS trial.³