Teaching Patients How to Manage Diabetic Complications
Introduction
It is believed that half of all diabetic patients in the United States have poorly controlled blood sugars, putting them at greater risk for experiencing complications such as kidney or eye disease (Jolving, 2011). Through research, we now understand that poorly controlled patients can understand how to manage their disease through extensive training. Weinger and associates randomized 222 diabetic patients that had poor management skills into two groups. One group had an extensive educational program of ten hours while the other group had less instruction. After three months the, HbA1C less dropped by 0.8 percent (Jolving, 2011). So how do we teach patients to manage their diabetes?
Diabetic Education
I would start out by telling the patient that diabetes is serious chronic metabolic condition that has to pathways. For type 1 diabetes, it is an autoimmune disorder that destroys the pancreatic beta cells. These cells are necessary to produce insulin to sustain life (Leak, Davis, Houchin, & Mabry (2009). In DM2, ...
Diabetes education is a structured education and self-management (at diagnosis and regularly reviewed and reinforced) to promote awareness. Diet and lifestyle, healthy diet, weight loss if the person is overweight, smoking cessation, regular physical exercise. Maximizing glucose control while minimizing adverse effects of treatment such as hypoglycemia. Reduction of other risk factors for complications of diabetes, including the early detection and management of hypertension, drug treatment to modify lipid levels and consideration of antiplatelet therapy with aspirin. Early intervention for complications of diabetes,, including cardiovascular disease, feet problems, eye problems, kidney problems and neuropathy.
Raising awareness can be done through holding fund raisers, and offering free blood glucose testing, as well as foods to eat and avoid. Nutrition plays an important role in diabetes. Many diabetic patients may not have the means to buy the foods they should be eating nor may they know what foods to buy. Patients may be unaware of the natural sugars that fruits have. In addition to watching the sugar intake, patients also need to be aware of their carbohydrate
As you may or may not already know, diabetes is a non-communicable disease. Learning about diabetes interests me because my grandmother and grandfather are both diabetic. I see what they go through every day with pricking their finger, injecting insulin and watching what they eat. It seems to be a hassle, but for them- it’s their life.
Diabetes is a disease in which a person’s body in unable to make or utilize insulin properly which affects blood sugar levels. Insulin is a hormone that is produced in the pancreas, which helps to regulate glucose (sugar) levels, break down carbohydrates and fats, and is essential to produce the body’s energy. The CDC (2013) offers reliable insight, summarized here, into the different types of diabetes, some causes, and health complications that may arise from the disease.
Every action of my day, every bite of food and every amount of exercise affects my health. I have had Juvenile Diabetes for thirteen years, and now I have decided to take on the task of not only managing my own health, but other’s as well. Managing my diabetes has not always been a huge struggle for me, but with the new stress of nursing school, it is becoming a balancing act between school and my own health.
Diabetes education has been known to be an essential component of diabetes treatment since the early 1900s. In recent years, diabetes education has become an integral part of diabetes treatment (Piccinino et al, 2015). The 2012 National Standards for Diabetes Self-Management Education (DSME) defines education as an exchange of knowledge, tools and practices that will address
My interest in this topic is a result of recent experiences with Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 (DMI), especially with the following two instances: a young adult patient admitted at the hospital following a DKA episode during one of my nursing rotations and one of my instructors with type 1 diabetes. Also, my father was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, this has increased my eagerness to study and explore more about the disease.
Specific purpose: To inform my audience about what diabetes is, what causes this condition and its health effects.
Norris SL, Lua, J, Smith SJ, Schmid CH & Engelgau, MM 2002, ‘Self- Management Education for Adults With Type ‘Diabetes’, Diabetes Care, Vol. 25 no.7, July, pp.1159-1171.
Polonsky, W.H (2006). ’Encouraging effective self-management in diabetes.’ In: k101 An introduction to health and social care, resources, Block 3, pg19, Milton Keynes, The open university.
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
Diabetes is a significant and fast growing health concern in the United States. About 16 million Americans have diabetes – and that number increases every day. Every day there is someone who suffers from a diabetic emergency. What is a diabetic emergency? Well, first we must understand what diabetes is. Diabetes is a disease that affects how your body uses blood glucose (or commonly known as blood sugar) your body isn’t able to take the sugar from your bloodstream and carry it to your body cells where it can be used for energy. There are two types of diabetes; Type I (insulin dependent) and Type II (non-insulin dependent). Both types can cause a diabetic emergency. Both types require medical intervention/treatment.
Diabetes is a common disease, which can be a serious life-long illness caused by high level of glucose in the blood. This condition is when the body cannot produce insulin or lack of insulin production from the beta cells in the islet of Langerhans in the pancreas. Diabetes can cause other health problems over a period. Eye, kidneys, and nerves can get damaged and chances of stroke are always high. Because of the serious complication, the purposes of teaching plan for diabetes patient are to optimize blood glucose control, optimize quality of life, and prevent chronic and potentially life-threatening complications.
I will try the following three ways to avoid causing type 2 diabetes patients’ feelings of shame or guilt. The first is showing understanding with empathy and care. The type 2 diabetes patients, especially those who are newly diagnosed, usually will present with overwhelmed and hopeless. At this time, showing understanding by telling them that they are not alone, they are many people who have diabetes are in the same boat with them. Conveying the idea that by adhering to medications and therapies, type 2 diabetes can be managed and controlled could help those patients. I will also share my personal story with the patients, my uncle was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes several years ago, and he is the only one in our whole family that has type
In conclusion, diabetes is a serious disease and can be life threatening. With the right research and implementation of new studies diabetes can be reduced among the populations. We as a people need to realize this epidemic and all get together and beat it. Restaurants need to stop putting chemicals and unnecessary fats in their food. Not only diabetics but everyone should educate themselves on what is going in your body when you eat. Also, exercising and getting off the couch, in children, needs to be addressed and that alone would help reduce diabetes in the younger population. I can’t stress enough on education. If you know what you are eating or how you are exercising you protect yourself from poor health and live a great life. Type 2 diabetes can be dwindled down with a conscious individual and group effort.