Diabetes Patient Education Essay

Patient Education: Diabetes
Carolina Rodriguez
Nova Southeastern University

Patient Education on Diabetes
Diabetes mellitus is a leading cause of death in the United States (U.S.). Holt (2014) identified that “cardiovascular risk factors, such as smoking, obesity and a sedentary lifestyle, are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality especially in patients with type 2 diabetes” (p. 53). Patient education is important to nursing to assist patients establish healthy foundations that help maintain health and avoid health issues. If diabetics are not well educated about their disease, they can suffer severe health consequences. There are ways to avoid diabetic related morbidity. To avoid these complications, the patient

must monitor their blood glucose levels, understand and utilize proper injection techniques, and apply carbohydrate counting to their meal plan.

Blood glucose monitoring
Monitoring blood glucose levels is an essential priority as a diabetic to reduce the incidence of health issues. Sugar levels are measured by inserting a slight drop amount of blood into a test stripe, in which the test stripe is already inserted in the blood glucose meter. The levels should read a few seconds after the blood is introduced. If the sugar levels read out of its normal range, the diabetic can experience undesirable symptoms. For instance, hyperglycemia occurs when the diabetic has high blood glucose levels. Some of the symptoms include; increased thirst, frequent urination, blurred vision, and fatigue. Hypoglycemia occurs when the diabetic is experiencing low blood glucose levels, which causes them to have chills, confusion, hunger, and tingling or numbness in the lips or

tongue. Maintaining glucose control is important, especially for the healthcare professionals to indicate if your daily routine of monitoring your glucose levels is effective or if some adjustments need to be made to improve glucose levels. Some adjustments that may be made are involved with the diabetics’ diet, exercise, specific times they have to monitor glucose levels, or medications. Another effective and yet significant method to monitor glucose levels is to conduct an HbA1c test. Holt (2014) explains that the HbA1c “blood test relies on a normal erythrocyte lifespan of 120 days and measures the amount of glycated hemoglobin over the preceding two to three months” (p. 54). These results are attained through blood analysis and the average of blood glucose levels is determined. Once the blood sugar is monitored, if the diabetic is insulin dependent, then they can inject the insulin doses depending on the glucose levels.
Injection techniques
A patient with diabetes must understand and utilize proper injection techniques, in regards to correct injection sites, rotation of the injection sites, and using the right equipment.

If the diabetic injects more or less than what is necessary, he or she may experience hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia.
Carbohydrate counting
Carbohydrate counting helps the patient by means of measuring the amount of carbohydrates that can be consumed and how much insulin must be taken before each meal. It is essential to monitor your glucose levels two hours after each meal because most of the food has been absorbed into the blood

stream.

References
Edwards, A. (2015). An introduction to carbohydrate counting in type 1 diabetes. Journal of Diabetes Nursing, 19(2), 73-77. Retrieved from http://www.thejournalofdiabetesnur sing.co.uk/media/content/_master/4033/files/pdf/jdn19-2-73-7.pdf
Holt, P. (2014). Blood glucose monitoring in diabetes. Nursing Standard, 28(27), 52-58. doi:10.7748/ns2014.03.28.27.52.e650
Pledger, J., Hicks, D., Kirkland, F., & Down, S. (2012). Importance of injection technique in diabetes. Journal of Diabetes Nursing, 16(4), 160-165. Retrieved from http://picsolu tion.ir/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Importance-of-Injection-Technique-in-Diabetes.pdf