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Diabetes Case Study Essay

Decent Essays

HLTEN611B – Apply Principles of Diabetic Nursing Care
Assessment 1 – Case Study

James is 18 years of age and has just presented (with his parents) to his GP with a 2 week history of extreme fatigue, polyuria, polydipsia, and weight loss. His random BGL is 41mmol/l and his blood ketones show 3.2mmol/l. His GP has diagnosed Type 1 diabetes with DKA and has sent him to the emergency department to see an endocrinologist at your public hospital, St Health Skills. The endocrinologist has decided on inpatient stabilisation. James has been deemed stable enough with his DKA to avoid ICU admission, but requires acute nursing care. He is severely dehydrated, his potassium and sodium levels are low and he is experiencing muscle and abdominal …show more content…

Type 1 diabetes can also be caused by a virus that damages the pancreas in some way. This condition is not preventable and those with type 1 require regular ongoing insulin injections to balance blood glucose levels. (WebMD , LLC, 2012)

Type 2 diabetes (insulin resistant) is when not enough insulin is produced by the pancreas leaving the body unable to control sugar levels in the blood. It is believed that obesity causes the body’s cells to become resistant to insulin therefore this type of diabetes is mainly associated with a lack of physical activity, obesity and poor diet. This condition is preventable through early lifestyle changes. The person may not have symptoms prior to diagnosis and the disease develops gradually meaning that as the disease gets worse the pancreas may make less insulin. (WebMD , LLC, 2012)

Diagnosis of diabetes mellitus involves; patient history and physical examination. Blood tests including; FBG level exceeding 7.0mmol/l, OGTT level exceeding 11.0mmol/l using a 75g glucose load, postprandial blood glucose, HbA1c over a 2-3 month period >8%, lipid profile, serum urea and serum creatinine, electrolytes. Complete urinalysis. (Brown & Edwards, 2012)

Question 3 How will you approach this initial meeting with James and his family? What things do you need to consider? Are there any emotional considerations?

James is feeling anxious and angry about the situation he

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