Nursing care plans for Diabetes Mellitus, Diabetes mellitus is a disorder in which the level of blood glucose is persistently raised above the normal range. Diabetes mellitus is a syndrome with disordered metabolism and inappropriate hyperglycemia due to either a deficiency of insulin secretion or to a combination of insulin resistance and inadequate insulin secretion to compensate. Diabetes mellitus occurs in two primary forms: type 1, characterized by absolute insufficiency, and the more prevalent type 2, characterized by insulin resistance with varying degrees of insulin secretory defects. Diabetes mellitus is a group of metabolic diseases characterized by elevated levels of glucose in the blood (hyperglycemia) resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both (ADA], Expert Committee on the Diagnosis and Classification of Diabetes Mellitus, 2003.
Causes for Diabetes Mellitus
The cause of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes remains unknown, although genetic factors may play a role. Diabetes mellitus results from insulin deficiency or resistance. Insulin transports glucose into the cell for use as energy and storage as glycogen. It also stimulates protein synthesis and free fatty acid storage. Insulin deficiency or resistance compromises the body tissues’ access to essential nutrients for fuel and storage. The resulting hyperglycemia can damage many of the body’s organs and tissues.
Type 1 diabetes is due to pancreatic islet B cell destruction predominantly by an autoimmune process, and these patients are prone to ketoacidosis.
Type 2 diabetes is the more prevalent form and results from insulin resistance with a defect in compensatory insulin secretion
Insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas, controls the level of glucose in the blood by regulating the production and storage of glucose.
Risk Factors For Diabetes Mellitus Include:
- Obesity.
- Physiologic or emotional stress, which can cause prolonged elevation of stress hormone levels.
- Pregnancy, which causes weight gain and increases levels of estrogen and placental hormones, which antagonize insulin
- Metabolic syndrome, which is considered a precursor to the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus
- some medications that can antagonize the effects of insulin, including thiazide diuretics, adrenal corticosteroids, and hormonal contraceptives
Classification of Diabetes Mellitus
There are several different types of diabetes mellitus; they may differ in cause, clinical course, and treatment. The major classifications of diabetes are:
- Type 1 diabetes (insulin dependent diabetes mellitus) is caused by B-cell destruction, usually leading to absolute insulin deficiency
a) Immune mediated
b) Idiopathic
- Type 2 diabetes (previously referred to as non insulin dependent diabetes mellitus) ranges from those with predominant insulin resistance associated with relative insulin deficiency, to those with a predominantly insulin secretory defect with insulin resistance
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF DIABETES
Insulin is secreted by beta cells, which are one of four types of cells in the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas. Insulin is an anabolic, or storage, hormone. When a person eats a meal, insulin secretion increases and moves glucose from the blood into muscle, liver, and fat cells. In those cells, insulin:
- Transports and metabolizes glucose for energy
- Stimulates storage of glucose in the liver and muscle (in the form of glycogen)
- Signals the liver to stop the release of glucose
- Enhances storage of dietary fat in adipose tissue
- Accelerates transport of amino acids (derived from dietary protein) into cells
Insulin also inhibits the breakdown of stored glucose, protein, and fat. During fasting periods (between meals and overnight), the pancreas continuously releases a small amount of insulin (basal insulin); another pancreatic hormone called glucagon (secreted by the alpha cells of the islets of Langerhans) is released when blood glucose levels decrease and stimulate the liver to release stored glucose. The insulin and the glucagon together maintain a constant level of glucose in the blood by stimulating the release of glucose from the liver. Initially, the liver produces glucose through the breakdown of glycogen (glycogenolysis). After 8 to 12 hours without food, the liver forms glucose from the breakdown of noncarbohydrate substances, including amino acids (gluconeogenesis).
Type 1 Diabetes
This form of diabetes is immune-mediated in over 90% of cases and idiopathic in less than 10%. The rate of pancreatic B cell destruction is quite variable, being rapid in some individuals and slow in others. Type 1 diabetes is usually associated with ketosis in its untreated state. It occurs at any age but most commonly arises in children and young adults with a peak incidence before school age and again at around puberty. It is a catabolic disorder in which circulating insulin is virtually absent, plasma glucagon is elevated, and the pancreatic B cells fail to respond to all insulinogenic stimuli. Exogenous insulin is therefore required to reverse the catabolic state, prevent ketosis, reduce the hyperglucagonemia, and reduce blood glucose.
Immune-mediated type 1 diabetes mellitus (type 1A)
Most patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus have circulating antibodies to islet cells (ICA), insulin (IAA), glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD65), and tyrosine phosphatases (IA-2 and IA2-) at the time the diagnosis is made. These antibodies facilitate screening for an autoimmune cause of diabetes, particularly screening siblings of affected children, as well as adults with atypical features of type 2 Diabetes). Antibody levels decline with increasing duration of disease. Also, low levels of anti-insulin antibodies develop in almost all patients once they are treated with insulin.
This theory is referred to as the hygiene hypothesis. None of these factors has so far been confirmed as the culprit. Part of the difficulty is that autoimmune injury undoubtedly starts many years before clinical diabetes mellitus develops.
Idiopathic type 1 diabetes mellitus (type 1B)
Less than 10% of subjects have no evidence of pancreatic B cell autoimmunity to explain their insulinopenia and ketoacidosis. This subgroup has been classified as “idiopathic type 1 diabetes” and designated as “type 1B.” Although only a minority of patients with type 1 diabetes fall into this group, most of these are of Asian or African origin.
Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Circulating endogenous insulin is sufficient to prevent ketoacidosis but is inadequate to prevent hyperglycemia in the face of increased needs owing to tissue insensitivity (insulin resistance).
The two main problems related to insulin in type 2 diabetes are insulin resistance and impaired insulin secretion. Insulin resistance refers to a decreased tissue sensitivity to insulin. Normally, insulin binds to special receptors on cell surfaces and initiates a series of reactions involved in glucose metabolism. In type 2 diabetes, these intracellular reactions are diminished, thus rendering insulin less effective at stimulating glucose uptake by the tissues and at regulating glucose release by the liver.
The exact mechanisms that lead to insulin resistance and impaired insulin secretion in type 2 diabetes are unknown, although genetic factors are thought to play a role. Despite the impaired insulin secretion that is characteristic of type 2 diabetes, there is enough insulin present to prevent the breakdown of fat and the accompanying production of ketone bodies. Therefore, DKA does not typically occur in type 2 diabetes.
Prediabetes
Prediabetes is an abnormality in glucose values intermediate between normal and overt diabetes.
Impaired Fasting Glucose
- A new category adopted by the American Diabetes Association in 1997 and redefined in 2004.
- Occurs when fasting blood glucose is greater than or equal to 100 but less than 126 mg/dL.
Impaired Glucose Tolerance
- Defined as blood glucose measurement on a glucose tolerance test greater than or equal to 140 mg/dl but less than 200 in the 2-hour sample.
- Asymptomatic; it can progress to type 2 diabetes or remain unchanged.
- May be a risk factor for the development of hypertension, coronary heart disease, and hyperlipidemias.
Gestational Diabetes Mellitus
- Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is defined as carbohydrate intolerance occurring during pregnancy.
- Occurs in approximately 4% of pregnancies and usually disappears after delivery.
- Women with GDM are at higher risk for diabetes at a later date.
- GDM is associated with increased risk of fetal morbidity.
- Screening for GDM for all pregnant women other than those at lowest risk (under age 25, of normal body weight, have no family history of diabetes, are not a member of an ethnic group with high prevalence of diabetes) should occur between the 24th and 28th weeks of gestation.
Diabetes Associated with Other Conditions
Certain drugs can decrease insulin activity resulting in hyperglycemia corticosteroids, thiazide diuretics, estrogen, phenytoin.
Disease states affecting the pancreas or insulin receptors pancreatitis, cancer of the pancreas, Cushing’s disease or syndrome, acromegaly, pheochromocytoma, muscular dystrophy, Huntington’s chorea.
CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS
Clinical manifestations of all types of diabetes include the “three Ps”: polyuria, polydipsia, and polyphagia. Polyuria (increased urination) and polydipsia (increased thirst) occur as a result of the
excess loss of fluid associated with osmotic diuresis. The patient also experiences polyphagia (increased appetite) resulting from the catabolic state induced by insulin deficiency and the breakdown of proteins and fats. Other symptoms include fatigue and weakness, sudden vision changes, tingling or numbness in hands or feet, dry skin, skin lesions or wounds that are slow to heal, and recurrent infections. The onset of type 1 Diabetes may also be associated with sudden weight loss or nausea, vomiting, or abdominal pains, if DKA has developed.
DIABETES MANAGEMENT
The main goal of diabetes treatment is to normalize insulin activity and blood glucose levels to reduce the development of vascular and neuropathic complications.
Drugs for Treating Hyperglycemia
The drugs for treating type 2 diabetes fall into several categories:
- Drugs that primarily stimulate insulin secretion by binding to the sulfonylurea receptor. Sulfonylureas remain the most widely prescribed drugs for treating hyperglycemia. The meglitinide analog repaglinide and the D-phenylalanine derivative nateglinide also bind the sulfonylurea receptor and stimulate insulin secretion.
- Drugs that alter insulin action: Metformin works in the liver. The thiazolidinediones appear to have their main effect on skeletal muscle and adipose tissue.
- Drugs that principally affect absorption of glucose: The glucosidase inhibitors acarbose and miglitol are such currently available drugs.
- Drugs that mimic incretin effect or prolong incretin action: Exenatide and DPP 1V inhibitors fall into this category.
- Other: Pramlintide lowers glucose by suppressing glucagon and slowing gastric emptying.
Insulin
Insulin is indicated for type 1 diabetes as well as for type 2 diabetic patients with insulinopenia whose hyperglycemia does not respond to diet therapy either alone or combined with other hypoglycemic drugs.
Therefore, the therapeutic goal for diabetes management is to achieve normal blood glucose levels (euglycemia) without hypoglycemia and without seriously disrupting the patient’s usual lifestyle and activity.
There are five components of diabetes management
• Nutritional management
• Exercise
• Monitoring
• Pharmacologic therapy
• Education
Nursing Process
Nursing Care Plans For Diabetes Mellitus
Nursing Assessment Nursing Care Plans For Diabetes Mellitus
Obtain a history of current problems, family history, and general health history.
Has the patient experienced polyuria, polydipsia, polyphagia, and any other symptoms?
Number of years since diagnosis of diabetes
Family members diagnosed with diabetes, their subsequent treatment, and complications
Perform a review of systems and physical examination to assess for signs and symptoms of diabetes, general health of patient, and presence of complications.
General: recent weight loss or gain, increased fatigue, tiredness, anxiety
Skin: skin lesions, infections, dehydration, evidence of poor wound healing
Eyes: changes in vision”floaters, halos, blurred vision, dry or burning eyes, cataracts, glaucoma
Mouth: gingivitis, periodontal disease
Cardiovascular: orthostatic hypotension, cold extremities, weak pedal pulses, leg claudication
GI: diarrhea, constipation, early satiety, bloating, increased flatulence, hunger or thirst
Genitourinary (GU): increased urination, nocturia, impotence, vaginal discharge
Neurologic: numbness and tingling of the extremities, decreased pain and temperature perception, changes in gait and balance
Nursing Diagnosis Nursing care plans for Diabetes Mellitus
Common nursing diagnosis found in Nursing care plans for Diabetes Mellitus
- Imbalanced Nutrition: More than Body Requirements related to intake in excess of activity expenditures
- Fear related to insulin injection
- Risk for Injury (hypoglycemia) related to effects of insulin, inability to eat
- Activity Intolerance related to poor glucose control
- Deficient Knowledge related to use of oral hypoglycemic agents
- Risk for Impaired Skin Integrity related to decreased sensation and circulation to lower extremities
- Ineffective Coping related to chronic disease and complex self-care regimen
Nursing Intervention and Evaluation Nursing care plans for Diabetes Mellitus
Nursing Diagnose
|
Outcome
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Intervention
|
Evaluation
|
Imbalanced
Nutrition: More than Body Requirements related to intake in excess of
activity expenditures
|
Nutrition balance
between needs and intake
|
·
Assess
current timing and content of meals.
·
Advise
patient on the importance of an individualized meal plan in meeting
weight-loss goals. Reducing intake of carbohydrates may benefit some
patients; however, fad diets or diet plans that stress one food group and
eliminate another are generally not recommended.
·
Discuss
the goals of dietary therapy for the patient. Setting a goal of a 10% (of
patient’s actual body weight) weight loss over several months is usually
achievable and effective in reducing blood sugar and other metabolic
parameters.
·
Assist
patient to identify problems that may have an impact on dietary adherence and
possible solutions to these problems. Emphasize that lifestyle changes should
be maintainable for life.
·
Explain
the importance of exercise in maintaining/reducing body weight.
·
Caloric
expenditure for energy in exercise
·
Carryover
of enhanced metabolic rate and efficient food utilization
·
Assist
patient to establish goals for weekly weight loss and incentives to assist in
achieving them.
·
Strategize
with patient to address the potential social pitfalls of weight reduction.
|
Maintains ideal body
weight with body mass index less than 25
|
Fear related to
insulin injection
|
Fear less or
discrease
|
·
Assist
patient to reduce fear of injection by encouraging verbalization of fears
regarding insulin injection, conveying a sense of empathy, and identifying
supportive coping techniques.
·
Demonstrate
and explain thoroughly the procedure for insulin self-injection
·
Help
patient to master technique by taking a step-by-step approach.
·
Allow
patient time to handle insulin and syringe to become familiar with the
equipment.
·
Teach
self-injection first to alleviate fear of pain from injection.
·
Instruct
patient in filling syringe when he or she expresses confidence in
self-injection procedure.
·
Review
dosage and time of injections in relation to meals, activity, and bedtime
based on patient’s individualized insulin regimen.
|
Demonstrates
self-injection of insulin with minimal fear
|
Risk for Injury
(hypoglycemia) related to effects of insulin, inability to eat
|
Injury is not
appears
|
·
Closely
monitor blood glucose levels to detect hypoglycemia.
·
Instruct
patient in the importance of accuracy in insulin preparation and meal timing
to avoid hypoglycemia.
·
Assess
patient for the signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia.
o
Adrenergic
(early symptoms) sweating, tremor, pallor, tachycardia, palpitations, nervousness
from the release of adrenalin when blood glucose falls rapidly
o
Neurologic
(later symptoms) light-headedness, headache, confusion, irritability, slurred
speech, lack of coordination, staggering gait from depression of central
nervous system as glucose level progressively falls
·
Treat
hypoglycemia promptly with 15 to 20 g of fast-acting carbohydrates.
·
Encourage
patient to carry a portable treatment for hypoglycemia at all times.
·
Assess
patient for cognitive or physical impairments that may interfere with ability
to accurately administer insulin.
·
Between-meal
snacks as well as extra food taken before exercise should be encouraged to
prevent hypoglycemia.
·
Encourage
patients to wear an identification bracelet or card that may assist in prompt
treatment in a hypoglycemic emergency.
·
Encourage
patient to carry a portable treatment for hypoglycemia at all times.
·
Assess
patient for cognitive or physical impairments that may interfere with ability
to accurately administer insulin.
·
Between-meal
snacks as well as extra food taken before exercise should be encouraged to
prevent hypoglycemia.
·
Encourage
patients to wear an identification bracelet or card that may assist in prompt
treatment in a hypoglycemic emergency.
|
Hypoglycemia
identified and treated appropriately
|
Activity Intolerance
related to poor glucose control
|
Normal Activity is
appears
|
·
Advise
patient to assess blood glucose level before and after strenuous exercise.
·
Instruct
patient to plan exercises on a regular basis each day.
·
Encourage
patient to eat a carbohydrate snack before exercising to avoid hypoglycemia.
·
Advise
patient that prolonged strenuous exercise may require increased food at
bedtime to avoid nocturnal hypoglycemia.
·
Instruct
patient to avoid exercise whenever blood glucose levels exceed 250 mg/day and
urine ketones are present. Patient should contact health care provider if
levels remain elevated.
·
Counsel
patient to inject insulin into the abdominal site on days when arms or legs
are exercised.
|
Exercises daily
|
Deficient Knowledge
related to use of oral hypoglycemic agents
|
Knowledge is
sufficient
|
·
Assess
level of knowledge of disease and ability to care for self
·
Assess
adherence to diet therapy, monitoring procedures, medication treatment, and
exercise regimen
·
Assess
for signs of hyperglycemia: polyuria, polydipsia, polyphagia, weight loss,
fatigue, blurred vision
·
Assess
for signs of hypoglycemia: sweating, tremor, nervousness, tachycardia,
light-headedness, confusion
·
Perform
thorough skin and extremity assessment for peripheral neuropathy or
peripheral vascular disease and any injury to the feet or lower extremities
·
Assess
for trends in blood glucose and other laboratory results
·
Make
sure that appropriate insulin dosage is given at the right time and in
relation to meals and exercise
·
Make
sure patient has adequate knowledge of diet, exercise, and medication
treatment
·
Immediately
report to health care provider any signs of skin or soft tissue infection
(redness, swelling, warmth, tenderness, drainage)
·
Get
help immediately for signs of hypoglycemia that do not respond to usual
glucose replacement
·
Get
help immediately for patient presenting with signs of either ketoacidosis
(nausea and vomiting, Kussmaul respirations, fruity breath odor, hypotension,
and altered level of consciousness) or hyperosmolar hyperglycemic nonketotic
syndrome (nausea and vomiting, hypothermia, muscle weakness, seizures,
stupor, coma).
|
Verbalizes
appropriate use and action of oral hypoglycemic agents
|
Risk for Impaired
Skin Integrity related to decreased sensation and circulation to lower
extremities
|
Impaired Skin
Integrity is not appears
|
·
Assess
feet and legs for skin temperature, sensation, soft tissue injuries, corns,
calluses, dryness, hammer toe or bunion deformation, hair distribution,
pulses, deep tendon reflexes.
·
Maintain
skin integrity by protecting feet from breakdown.
o
Use
heel protectors, special mattresses, foot cradles for patients on bed rest.
o
Avoid
applying drying agents to skin (eg, alcohol).
o
Apply
skin moisturizers to maintain suppleness and prevent cracking and fissures.
·
Instruct
patient in foot care guidelines
·
Advise
the patient who smokes to stop smoking or reduce if possible, to reduce
vasoconstriction and enhance peripheral blood flow. Help patient to establish
behavior modification techniques to eliminate smoking in the hospital and to
continue them at home for smoking-cessation program.
|
No skin breakdown
|
Ineffective Coping
related to chronic disease and complex self-care regimen
|
Effective coping
|
·
Discuss
with the patient the perceived effect of diabetes on lifestyle, finances,
family life, occupation.
·
Explore
previous coping strategies and skills that have had positive effects.
·
Encourage
patient and family participation in diabetes self-care regimen to foster
confidence.
·
Identify
available support groups to assist in lifestyle adaptation.
·
Assist
family in providing emotional support.
|
Verbalizes initial
strategies for coping with diabetes
|
Diabetes Mellitus, Patient Teaching Discharge and Home Healthcare Guide
Because diabetes mellitus is a lifelong disease, patients, family teaching discharge, and home healthcare guide probably the most important responsibility of the nurse who provides Nursing Care plans for Diabetes Mellitus. The best persons to manage diabetes mellitus that is affected so markedly by daily fluctuations in environmental stress, exercise, diet, and infections are the patients self and their families. Patient teaching discharge and home healthcare guide patient with Diabetes Mellitus should include explanations by the physician or nurse of the nature of diabetes and its potential acute and chronic hazards and how they can be recognized early and prevented or treated.
Patient teaching discharge and home healthcare guide for Diabetes Mellitus:
- Teach the patient sign and symptoms of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia
- Teach the patients about medication purpose, dosage, route, and possible side effects of all prescribed medications.
- In patients with self-administer insulin, demonstrate patient the appropriate preparation and administration techniques.
- Teach to the patient signs and symptoms of diabetic neuropathy and emphasize the need for safety precautions because neuropathy decreased sensation can hide sense injuries
- Tell to the patient the Prognosis of Diabetes Mellitus, Insulin resistance increases with age, After the first few years of treatment, the majority of people with type 2 diabetes require more than one medicine to keep their blood sugar controlled
- Teach the patient how to manage diabetes when he has a minor illness, such as a cold, or flu.
- To encourage compliance with lifestyle changes, emphasize how blood glucose control affects long-term health.
- Teach the patient how to care for his feet.
- Advise him to wear comfortable, nonconstricting shoes and never to walk barefoot
- To prevent diabetes, teach people at high risk to avoid risk factors ”for example, maintaining proper weight and exercising regularly, teach to patients you can help to prevent type 2 diabetes by maintaining your ideal body weight, especially if you have a family history of diabetes. Diet and exercise have been shown to delay the onset of diabetes in people who are in the early stages of insulin resistance. If you already have been diagnosis Diabetes Mellitus type 2, you can delay or prevent complications by keeping tight control of your blood sugar.
- Advise patients to have annual ophthalmologic examinations for early detection of diabetic retinopathy
- Encourage the patient and his family to obtain additional information about Diabetes mellitus from nearby Diabetic foundations.