A transplant patient may feel overwhelmed at the prospect of going home. Explain to her that she will have a home care nurse who will continue her care. The home care nurse will assess blood glucose levels, daily intake and output, daily weight, diet (low protein, low sodium, no concentrated sweets), stool for occult blood, […]
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Try to convince your patient with diabetes to limit her alcohol consumption. Alcohol is high in calories, tends to be ketogenic, and increases the risk of hypoglycemia. Women should have no more than one drink (1 ounce of alcohol) per day; men, two drinks per day. Patients who are trying to lose weight and those […]
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Food facts on labels provide important nutritional information for patients with diabetes. The information makes it easier than ever to choose foods to help control blood glucose and lipid levels. Show your patient how to read labels properly-and how to avoid being fooled by them. This label for a frozen dinner shows what patients should […]
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The primary role of fat in diet is that of an energy source, either for immediate needs or for storage in adipose tissue for later use. However, excessive fat intake causes elevated levels of blood lipids, which consist of cholesterol, lipoproteins, and triglycerides. Lipoproteins are classified as low-density lipoproteins (LDLs), very-low-density lipoproteins (VLDLs), high-density lipoproteins […]
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Pancreas transplantation can improve the quality of life for your patient with Type1 diabetes by eliminating the need for insulin therapy, decreasing daily blood glucose measurements, and eliminating many diet restrictions. Transplantation also eliminates hypoglycemia.Pancreas transplantation is usually reserved for patients who will also receive a kidney transplant and immunosuppressive therapy. To be a candidate […]
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Patients who have received both a pancreas and a kidney have had the best results. Acute rejection is more common, however, than in patients who receive a kidney alone. Surgical complications after pancreas-only transplantation are common, occur earlier, and lead to death in more cases.The most common complications after pancreas transplantation include rejection, infection, venous […]
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For people with Type 2 diabetes, the first line of treatment is nutritional therapy coupled with exercise. If diet and exercise don’t control blood glucose levels adequately, a physician may prescribe oral antidiabetic drugs. These drugs, which are effective only when the pancreas continues to secrete at least some insulin, aren’t effective for patients with […]
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The physician will make exercise choices for your patient based on her type of diabetes, diabetic complications, other medical problems, and her exercise preferences.All exercise plans should spell out the types of exercise to be performed as well as their intensity, duration, and frequency. Exercise should be regular and rhythmic and should use the large […]
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All patients with Type 1 diabetes, and some patients with Type 2 diabetes, need to take medication to control their disease. Type 1 diabetes can be treated with insulin injections. Most Type 2 diabetes can be treated with oral antidiabetic drugs. Some patients with Type 2 diabetes require two or three oral antidiabetic drugs or […]
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The target heart rate, which is 70% to 85% of your patient’s maximum heart rate, determines the intensity of exercise. A physician may order an exercise stress test to determine your patient’s target heart rate. Some patients with diabetes have silent ischemia. Their maximum heart rates may be 15% to 20% lower than those of […]
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