Meet HCD’s Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist
This post was reviewed by our Director of Clinical Excellence and Oversight.
If you have diabetes or pre-diabetes, you probably know that the knowledge your healthcare team provides is critical to managing your condition. These professionals are specially trained to talk with you about topics such as healthful eating, exercise, and how to manage your diabetes so you can keep your blood sugar in range and decrease the chance of developing complications.
At Home Care Delivered, we offer direct-to-your-door delivery of essential diabetes management supplies, such as glucometers, test strips, lancets, and Continuous Glucose Monitors. But did you know that behind every order is the expertise of our knowledgeable team of healthcare professionals, including a diabetes expert known as a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES)?
People who have the knowledge and support to manage their diabetes are healthier than those who do not. What’s more, learning to control diabetes saves time and money and reduces hospital visits!
Introducing Hillary McCutcheon
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “People who have the knowledge and support to manage their diabetes are healthier than those who do not.” What’s more, the CDC says learning to control diabetes saves time and money and reduces emergency and hospital visits.
Sound good? We think so, too. That’s why our Clinical Team includes Clinical Resource Specialist Hillary McCutcheon, a registered nurse with a master’s degree in nursing education, and the designation of Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES). She explains, “The certification encompasses all education related to diabetes, including nutrition, medication, insulin pumps, and Continuous Glucose Monitors.”
Hillary has worked in doctors’ offices and other clinical settings, helping patients manage their condition with diet, exercise, and medication. At Home Care Delivered, she takes the lead on overseeing everything that has to do with diabetes, including serving as subject matter expert on diabetes care and related products.
Diabetes Education Is Critical
Diabetes is the 7th leading cause of death in the U.S. Over the past two decades, the number of adults diagnosed has more than doubled. This increase is due in large part to an aging population, and because the number of people who are overweight and obese has increased. Beyond the illness and suffering, medical costs and lost wages for people diagnosed with diabetes tops $325 billion per year!
Diabetes education is not just about giving people some rules to follow. It’s also about helping each person living with diabetes find the balance between optimal health and an enjoyable life. Says Hillary, “For example, diabetes educators work with patients to make small changes such as changing the sugar in their morning latte to an artificial sweetener that won’t spike their blood sugar levels.” Diabetes educators also work with patients to assist in meeting exercise and lifestyle goals.
Hillary’s responsibilities at Home Care Delivered also include helping HCD staff and customers understand the role of insurance and the specific requirements of different providers.
Insurance Can Be Tricky
Hillary’s responsibilities at Home Care Delivered also include helping HCD staff and customers understand the role of insurance and the specific requirements of different providers. “For example, in order to qualify for a Continuous Glucose Monitor, an insurance may require that the individual be testing their blood glucose a certain number of times per day, injecting insulin a specific number of times per day and/or requiring frequent adjustments to their insulin regimen based on their blood glucose test results,” she says.
As the Home Care Delivered Clinical Resource Specialist, Hillary plays a key role with healthcare providers, including doctors and their staff. “I work to clarify insurance criteria for provider’s offices to reduce frustration related to complex insurance criteria. I also work with HCD team members to provide education related to diabetes and diabetes related technologies,” she says.
As a Clinical Resource Specialist, part of Hillary’s job includes providing education related to diabetes specific orders, including continuous glucose monitors and insulin infusion supplies and providing monthly diabetes rounds to discuss current diabetes technologies with HCD team members. Her job also entails reviewing insurance orders, such as confirming that a particular insulin pump can be used with a brand or model of CGM. “It’s the role of the clinical team to ensure that orders are properly established, and that insurance or Medicare will cover the supplies,” she adds. In addition, she reviews the many pieces of educational material that HCD publishes, including blogs like this one. The HCD blog contains a wealth of information about diabetes that is meant to educate people about living with the condition, such as Tools and Tricks for Managing Diabetes at Work as well as information about how Continuous Glucose Monitors work, such as What Happens if my CGM Device Gets Wet?
Hillary emphasizes that, as a provider of high-quality diabetes medical products, it is important for HCD team members to know about diabetes and diabetes technologies as the more they know the better equipped they are to assist customers. HCD representatives cannot recommend one brand or type of equipment over another. But the more HCD team members know about diabetes and the real needs of people who have the condition, the better equipped they are to answer customers’ questions.
When patients go home from the hospital after using a Continuous Glucose Monitor, they often replace their traditional glucometer because they like the no-stick convenience and 24/7 readings.
CGM is HOT
Hillary and her team are especially busy these days serving up information and education about Continuous Glucose Monitors, whose popularity has skyrocketed in recent months. One reason for the exponential growth is the amount of compelling research pointing to the benefits of the no-stick, easy-to-use devices.
Another reason is that during the COVID surge, many hospitals used CGMs because they require less staff time than traditional blood sugar monitoring. “When patients go home from the hospital after using a Continuous Glucose Monitor, they often replace their traditional glucometer because they like the convenience and 24/7 readings,” Hillary says.
Count on HCD
If you have questions about Continuous Glucose Monitors or other diabetes supplies and equipment, you can count on Hillary and the knowledgeable HCD Customer Service team to help. We’ve been delivering quality medical supplies for more than 25 years. We carry the Dexcom G6 and Abbott’s FreeStyle Libre 14 Day system and we’ve got the expertise to ensure you get everything you need, when you need it, every time. Call today to enroll at 804-885-4101.
Diabetes expertise from highly trained specialists? That’s exactly what you get when you get your supplies from Home Care Delivered.
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Disclaimer:
Unless otherwise noted, the recommendations in this document were obtained from the sources indicated. Be advised that information contained herein is intended to serve as a useful reference for informational purposes only. HCD cannot be held responsible for the continued accuracy of or for any errors or omissions in the information. All trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.