Education
This action can prevent many complications of diabetes mellitus
Tight control of blood glucose levels
A major focus for health promotion activities.
Control of diabetes and its complications
Diabetes can be diagnosed by assessing this
blood glucose level
Death can occur in up to 10% of these cases even with appropriate treatment
Diabetic ketoacidosis
Has an onset of 15 minutes, it peaks in 1 – 3 hours, and lasts 3-5 hours
Rapid-Acting Insulin
Before medication administration, patient teaching should start with this concept
Testing blood glucose levels
These will improve metabolic and cardiac risk factors of diabetes
Weight loss and increased physical activities
A patient in HHS may not have this present upon assessment of the urine
ketones
This leads to osmotic diuresis with dehydration and electrolyte loss
Hyperglycemia
This drug class has many interactions with several different drugs
Sulfonylurea Agents
Glipizide (Glucotrol)
Glimepiride (Amaryl)
Medication administration education should include these 5 points
Syringe use
Mixing of insulins
Stability of mixture
Injection technique
Injection sites
This is a simple approach to nutrition and meal planning for diabetic patients
Carbohydrate counting
This electrolyte should be monitored closely for patients in a hyperglycemic state
Potassium
This is a set of guidelines for the diabetic patient who is ill
Sick Day Rules
This insulin is the only one that can be administered by IV
Regular Insulin
Besides poor blood glucose regulation, failing to complete this action could help maintain current level of vision
Regular eye examinations
This population is at an increased risk for poor nutrition, hypoglycemia, and especially dehydration
Elderly patients
This is the first action for the nurse when a patient presents with rapid, deep breathing and warm, moist skin
complete a blood glucose check
This is the first priority in fluid replacement during HHS and DKA
Restore volume
These 4 actions can influence insulin absorption
injection site
timing
type/dose of insulin
physical activity
This patient teaching will greatly reduce the risk for kidney disease related to nephropathy
Aggressive control of BG and HTN
Because of increased muscle glucose uptake and inhibited release from the liver, this can cause hypoglycemia
Exercise
This test is an indicator of the average blood glucose levels
hemoglobin A1c
This action must occur prior to administration of any antidiabetic drugs
Monitor blood glucose levels
This is the preferred insulin injection site due to it’s fast absorption rate
abdomen