AC7113 - Prevention and Management of Diabetes mellitus in Adults

What will I learn on this module?

In this module, you will gain knowledge and understanding of the prevention and management of both Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, the complications that may occur and the impact on the patient and family. You will also develop a critical insight into the role of practice and service structures in detecting and managing diabetes and preventing or postponing complications being able to critically evaluate impacts to practice and patient outcomes, developing analytical suggestions for improvements to service provision. Topics will include diagnosis, treatment and management of Diabetes Mellitus, risk factors and lifestyle interventions, foot care, screening for complications, emerging research and technologies and the mental health impact of living with this long term condition.
You will learn the value and application of comprehensive assessment, investigations and effective management of patients with or at risk of Diabetes Mellitus according to national standards within the context of the quality outcome framework and other practice based structures.
This module requires students to consider and critique differing forms of evidence on which their practice is based. Quality assurance and governance mechanisms will be explored, and students will be encouraged to recognise the importance of these concepts to practice and evaluate how they can contribute to systems to measure and improve quality whilst optimising use of existing resources for people living with diabetes.

How will I learn on this module?

In this module, you will learn through a combination of interactive lectures, seminars, clinical simulation and directed study. The module will be delivered at Northumbria University by lecturers and practitioners with specialist diabetes experience. Newcastle Diabetes Centre will also contribute to your teaching from world-leading experts in the field. As health care professionals, you will be expected to actively engage in the learning process, participate in group work and apply what is taught in the university to your practice setting. You will be encouraged to share your own expertise and debate practice issues, valuing the contribution of your peers, to enable you to make evidence based recommendations to influence the care provided to patients with or at risk of diabetes. You will be given the opportunity to access standardised professional competencies (TrendUK) to self-assess your progress as you learn, at a level appropriate to your practice. Technology enhanced learning will facilitate your learning and enable flexibility and independence as you progress through the module; Blackboard Ultra will enable you to access general module information, review all taught content remotely and will host independent, interactive e-learning which will underpin taught sessions. You will have access to Panopto video recordings to enhance your understanding of the module and assessment requirements.

How will I be supported academically on this module?

You will be supported by the module leader who has extensive experience in field of diabetes care and maintains close links with practice areas in the region. You will be supported by the module team at the scheduled timetabled group sessions at university with formative feedback provided throughout the delivery and you will be encouraged to access tutorial sessions for the summative assessment. Specialist lecturers and practitioners will deliver specific sessions and will also be available to support your learning. As a student you will be encouraged to work with your academic supervisors and peers to engage in student led learning activities, focused on critical application and synthesis of your knowledge to your specialist field of practice.

You will be able to access both library and student support services for study skills support as required through, ask4help and your student portal, details of which will be available on the module site via Blackbloard Ultra (BBU). BBU module site provides extensive material to support and underpin your learning, this includes module information, assessment information, online supported learning, Power-point presentations and e-lectures, reading lists and relevant web links.
You will also have access to NU connect app to enable you to view timetables and maps. Timetables will also be available online.

As part of the induction process you will be guided to additional support available through Skills Plus site, for areas including academic writing, referencing, critical review and writing, research techniques and methods, applied research, reflection and review. Further activities will be embedded throughout the module.

What will I be expected to read on this module?

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. Online reading lists (provided after enrolment) give you access to your reading material for your modules. The Library works in partnership with your module tutors to ensure you have access to the material that you need.

What will I be expected to achieve?

Knowledge & Understanding:
• You will be expected to understand and critically debate the principal determinants and risk factors in the development of type 1 and type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and the pathophysiological changes associated with the disease.
• You will critically examine the management and leadership of patients with or at risk of Diabetes Mellitus considering the context of current care delivery within pertinent care settings.

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
• You will critically analyse the contemporary evidence to synthesise suggestions for practice, developing your research skills via information retrieval to underpin your understanding of the screening, prevention, management and care delivery of people living with or at risk of diabetes mellitus.
• You will be enabled to develop insight and appreciation of the role of other health professionals in the care of people with or at risk of diabetes, demonstrating in depth knowledge to inform service provision

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
• You will appreciate the key attributes of the complexity of diabetes care and prevention, critically evaluating the extent to which current service provision supports or limits patient choice, applying theory to practice settings.

How will I be assessed?

Formative Assessment

Formative assessment will take place during scheduled sessions and informed by engagement in learning activities including group presentations Feedback will be provided by the module tutor. (MLO 1-5).


Summative Assessment
The summative assessment strategy is designed to enable you to demonstrate your knowledge of the promotion and management of the long-term health needs of the adult with, or at risk of diabetes from a service improvement perspective. This will be achieved by digital submission via Turnitin of a 3000-word service improvement proposal (SIP) exploring and critically evaluating the evidence to support the SIP, justifying the approach to the SIP (model) and evaluating potential strengths and limitations of its implementation. Feedback will be given electronically via Turnitin and will include development advice for future academic work.
(MLO 1-5).

Co-requisite(s)

N/A

Module abstract

This module is aimed at registered nurses and health care professionals working in the field of prevention and management of Diabetes Mellitus (DM). This module has been developed as a response for the need for practitioners to obtain skills, which will enable them to deliver effective, evidence-based management and preventative strategies.
This module aims to promote an increased knowledge and understanding of the prevention and management of DM, the complications that may occur and the impact on the patient and family. Students will develop a critical insight into the role of practice and service structures in detecting and managing diabetes and preventing or postponing complications. Students will develop their mastery of the topic through critical analysis of potential service improvement strategies to improve care provision for those living with, or at risk of diabetes. There will be an opportunities to enhance your research and academic skills through formative assessment and access to high quality resources. The written summative assessment asks you to develop a service improvement proposal to enhance the delivery of care to those living with, or at risk of diabetes.

Course info

Credits 20

Level of Study Postgraduate

Mode of Study 1 year Part Time

Department Nursing, Midwifery & Health

Location City Campus, Northumbria University

City Newcastle

Start September 2025 or January 2026

Fee Information

Module Information

All information is accurate at the time of sharing. 

Full time Courses are primarily delivered via on-campus face to face learning but could include elements of online learning. Most courses run as planned and as promoted on our website and via our marketing materials, but if there are any substantial changes (as determined by the Competition and Markets Authority) to a course or there is the potential that course may be withdrawn, we will notify all affected applicants as soon as possible with advice and guidance regarding their options. It is also important to be aware that optional modules listed on course pages may be subject to change depending on uptake numbers each year.  

Contact time is subject to increase or decrease in line with possible restrictions imposed by the government or the University in the interest of maintaining the health and safety and wellbeing of students, staff, and visitors if this is deemed necessary in future.

 

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