When working with the older adult population we have many health care challenges. One health concern for older adults is diabetes type 2. Diabetes can be defines as a raised glucose level and symptoms on two separate occasions. Diabetes type 2 is a metabolic disorder where a person shows some, but not complete, lack of insulin verses type 1 in which a person has a complete lack of insulin. The prevalence of diabetes among Americans has steadily increased over the years. “In 2010, 25.6 million Americans over 20 years old were estimated to be living with diabetes, with an additional 79 million estimated to have prediabetes” (Robertson, 2012, p. 225). Without proper education about the disease and how to manage it, the prevalence among our older population is likely to increase. “The epidemic of type 2 diabetes is clearly linked to increasing rates of overweight and obesity in the U.S. population, but projections by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggest that even if diabetes incidence rates level off, the prevalence of diabetes will double in the next 20 years, in part due to the aging of the population” (Kirkman et al., 2012, p. 2342).
Diagnosing diabetes type 2 can be difficult. There is not a single factor in determining if one has T2D but rather a number of factors. Some of the signs and symptoms older adults must be mindful of include increased thirst, increased hunger after just finishing a meal, and increased urination. They may also experience significant weight loss not attributed to diet, fatigue, numbness or tingling in the hands or feet and blurred vision. Older adults that experience any of these should report them to their physician.
Older adults with type 2 diabetes must keep their ...
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...ause depression and increase anxiety. To avoid these severe consequences older adults should be encouraged to stop smoking which will help with circulation, continue to manage their blood sugar, schedule a foot exam with their physician and perform self foot exams daily. They should also be advised to wear proper footwear to help avoid foot injuries.
Being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes can be difficult for older adults not only physically but emotionally as well. If the older adult is properly motivated then they may see the importance of managing their symptoms through proper diet, exercise and blood sugar monitoring. They may see that being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes does not mean they are dying and that death is upon them. By being properly educated they can develop an understanding that they can prolong their life and be more active and feel healthy.
According to the Department of Health and Human Services (2011), 18.5 % of the United States population is over the age of 60 years. Of these, 10.9 million (26.9%) are diagnosed with diabetes mellitus (ADA, 2011.) In Lewis and associates’ text book on Medical- Surgical nursing, Lewis states that the incidence of diabetes mellitus (DM) increases with age (Lewis, Dirksen, Heitkemper, Bucher, and Camera, 2011.) The purpose of this paper is to explore the disease process of diabetes mellitus in the geriatric population.
Type 2 diabetes is a progressive condition occurring in adults over 45 years but is now increasing in younger age groups such as children, adolescents and young adults. With type 2 diabetes the body becomes resistant and the insulin gradually loses that capacity to produce enough insulin to the pancreas. Diabetes is the fastest growing chronic condition in Australia. The numbers with people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes is increasing. In the past year more than 100,000 people have been diagnosed with diabetes. (https://www.diabetesaustralia.com.au/diabetes-in-australia) The numbers with people having type 2 diabetes is increasing in children mainly because they are not getting the right about of exercise each day, and eating incorrectly. This is happening because of the all the new electronic gadgets. This is concerning because this disease is taking memorable years from that person’s life. An idea for treatment could be that kids and adults should manage their life style more by eating healthier and doing more exercise. They could also go to the doctors and have
Diabetes is a disease that affects the body’s ability to produce or respond to insulin, a hormone that allows blood glucose (blood sugar) to enter the cells of the body and be used for energy. Diabetes falls into two main categories: type 1, or juvenile diabetes, which usually occurs during childhood or adolescence, and type 2, or adult-onset diabetes, the most common form of the disease, usually occurring after age 40. Type 1 results from the body’s immune system attacking the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. The onset of juvenile diabetes is much higher in the winter than in the summer. This association has been repeatedly confirmed in diabetes research. Type 2 is characterized by “insulin resistance,” or an inability of the cells to use insulin, sometimes accompanied by a deficiency in insulin production. There is also sometimes a third type of diabetes considered. It is gestational diabetes, which occurs when the body is not able to properly use insulin during pregnancy. Type 2 diabetes encompasses nine out of 10 diabetic cases. Diabetes is the fifth-deadliest disease in the United States, and it has no cure. The total annual economic cost of diabetes in 2002 was estimated to be $132 billion, or one out of every 10 health care dollars spent in the United States. Diabetes risk factors can fall into three major categories: family history, obesity, and impaired glucose tolerance. Minority groups and elderly are at the greatest risk of developing diabetes.
With the current literature research diabetes a growing among patients across the world. There several ways nursing can educate their patients on this disease that is killing their patients day to day. Educating their patients on getting physically active, changing their diet, and not smoking our some
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 client needs. Patients need information about their illness, side effects, complications and how to care for it. Diabetes education must be effective and accurate in quality, content, and method (Atak & Arslan, 2005). Diabetes education should happen concurrently with diagnosis and throughout treatment for a patient and should involve a structured program.
Diabetes is a very serious disease that takes many lives each year. It is a lifelong disease that can be fatal to both adults and children if it is uncontrolled. Diabetes does not have to be fatal if certain precautions are taken. If diabetics maintain a healthy diet and watch their carbohydrate intake they can keep their diabetes under control. Monitoring blood sugar is also necessary to live a healthy life. If diabetics know the right way of maintaining their diabetes, they can live a very normal and active life.
Type II diabetes is a serious problem that has been increasing over the years. The CDC predicts that by the year 2050 one in every three US adults could have diabetes. Type II diabetes, happens when the body gradually loses its ability to use or produce insulin, this is the leading cause of cases of diabetes. A person with diabetes has a lot of risk factors that come with this disease. Patients with diabetes have a two to four time greater chance of having a stroke and also having a heart disease related death. Diabetes is the leading cause of new blindness and non traumatic amputations.
Symptoms are an indication of something being wrong. In the case of discovering juvenile diabetes, some symptoms include but are not limited to, being extremely thirsty, frequent urination, often feeling tired and or hungry. Some may experience unexplained weight loss, the delay of sores healing properly, dry and itchy skin may also occur. Others have had a feeling of tingling in their feet and even having blurred vision. The symptoms listed may be the first sign of type 1 diabetes, or may occur when the sugar is high. (Eckman 2011).
Satterfield, DW, Volansky, M, Caspersen, CJ, Engelgau, MM, Bowman, BA, Gregg, EW, Geiss, LS, Hosey, GM, May, J & Vinicor, F 2003, ‘Community- Based Lifestyle Interventions to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes’, Diabetes Care, vol.26, no.9, September, pp.2643-2652, viewed 10th May 2011.
As the population of the United States ages and lifespan increases, the U.S. is being faced with challenges that could either hurt the country or benefit it if plans are executed correctly. By the year 2050, more than thirty-two million Americans will be over the age eighty and the share of the 80-plus generation will have doubled to 7.4 percent. Health care and aging population has become a great deal considering the impact it is having on the U.S. The United States is heading into another century with an outstanding percentage of people within the aging population. Today’s challenges involving health care and the aging populations are the employees of health professions being a major percentage of the aging population, the drive into debt, and prevention and postponement of disease and disability.
Ageing is distinguished from disease by the fact that it is universal. Multiple pathologies resulting in multiple symptoms, often non-specific, are a common phenomenon in the elderly (Arokiasamy, 1996). Few elderly persons escape the accumulation of chronic pathologies and long term non fatal diseases, which are degenerative in nature, as they grow older. According to Mental Health Quality of Life (MHQoL), there are 49.6% of older Malaysian having at least one to two chronic condition and 22.3% of the older population having more t...
Diabetes is a common disease, which can be a serious, life-long illness caused by high levels 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 time. Eye, kidneys, and nerves can get damaged and chances of stroke are always high. Because of the serious complications, the purposes of teaching a plan for diabetes patients are to optimize blood glucose control, optimize quality of life, and prevent chronic and potentially life-threatening complications.
The first step to knowing if you have diabetes is to identify its symptoms. Patients frequently overlook symptoms of: “Urinating often,” “Feeling very thirsty,” “Feeling very hungry even though you are eating,” “Extreme fatigue,” “Blurry vision,” “Cuts/bruises that are slow to heal” (“Symptoms”). These “symptoms of diabetes are typical. However, some people with type 2 diabetes have symptoms so...
I'm sure you have heard about diabetes before, right? Diabetes has become a major problem globally as it is associated with a higher morbidity and mortality rate. As a medical worker, documenting a detailed history of medical illness is important when it comes to identifying the aetiology of current diagnosis. Each time when I asked a question regarding medical illnesses among people who are in the late adulthood or elderly patients, the majority of them has diabetes mellitus as one of the comorbidities. In the United States alone, 9.4% of the general population which is equivalent to approximately 30 million individuals have been diagnosed with diabetes mellitus in 2015.
Type 2 diabetes is a condition that affects the way the body processes glucose. I stated things that I can do to lower my chances of having type 2 diabetes is watching what I eat, decreasing the amount of sugar, chips and snacks I consume. I can start now to try to eat more balanced meals and choose healthier snack options. Risk factors that contribute to type 2 diabetes are physical inactivity and moderate body mass index.