Date of Conferral

2018

Degree

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

School

Nursing

Advisor

Stoerm Anderson

Abstract

Adolescents with Type I and Type II diabetes need to monitor blood glucose and food intake, administer insulin, and participate in activities including physical education during school hours to maintain glycemic control. Glycemic management programs (GMPs) exist for the improvement of diabetes management during school hours. The purpose of this project was to evaluate a GMP in a school system in a rural area in the Southeastern United States. The goal was to determine if the existing GMP met objectives and to make recommendations for continuation, revision, or discontinuation of the GMP. The logic model provided the basic framework for the evaluation of the GMP by using a graphic flowchart depicting health outcomes prior to and after the implementation of the program. The review consisted of approximately 2,100 students from 9th to 12th grade, and out of those students there were 77 participants from 2010 and 89 participants from 2015 with diagnosis of diabetes. A t-test outcome evaluation found the updated GMP was associated with the lowering of hemoglobin A1c readings. Mean A1c in 2009 was 8.6% (180 - 190 mg/dl), with the mean decreasing to 7.2% (150 mg/d) in 2015. Changes in the program led to 1-to-1 care management based on children's individual needs and parental involvement. Findings show that the GMP improved glycemic management by empowering and individualizing care. This project contributes to positive social change by contributing to data from the Diabetes Prevention Program Research Group study showing that prevention of onset of Type II diabetes mellitus in adults and adolescents is successful through early detection of prediabetes in childhood.

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