Type 2 Diabetes Patient Education

The Effectiveness of Patient Education in the Management of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), Diabetes Mellitus continues to rise in the United States with almost 30 million children and adults having diabetes. Approximately 90-95% of those diagnosed are diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. (ADA, 2014) The need for further patient education by medical-surgical nurses has increased due to the rising number of diabetic patients. Glucose control is important in not only the promotion of health but in the prevention and early interventions of further long-term complication or comorbidities. By focusing on patient education and the responsibility of self-management the patients have the ability to

The research will be used to update medical-surgical nurses on techniques and protocol for effective patient education in the management of type 2 diabetes. The impact on healthcare, in general, from this information increases the responsibility of the nurses for effective patient education and follow-ups. The greater in-depth patients are educated on the disease process, as well as, the combination of healthcare collaborations and patient self-management, the results can potentially decrease the amount of patients hospitalized each year due to elevated glucose level complications.(Nelson-Slemmer, 2014; Murtha, 2015) The financial burdens, both institutionally and patients individually, can be reduced by prevention education. Early interventions of the progression of Type 2 Diabetes, will also impact the financial affliction of long-term complications and comorbidities that can occur. (Murtha, 2015) Interprofessional education is beneficial and can provide the specialized education needed to successfully educate patients on managing type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Additional collaborations are helpful in providing, across the board, care management to the patients. Patients who keep a diabetes care journal, track and monitor glucose levels, document nutritional intake and medication regimen have higher success rate in managing their diabetes outcomes. (Nelson-Slemmer, 2014) Providing this information to all healthcare practitioners allows individualization and accurate adjustments for their plan of treatment. The changes being made can reduce patients’ anxiety and depression about the diagnosis due to lack of knowledge and understanding. Providing the information and resources available to help patient understand and cope with the diagnosis is important. The patient needs to be