Question

A 58-year-old man has recently been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.

1. Discuss the effects of diet, exercise, and drug therapy with the client.

2. Your patient tells you his grandson has Type 1 diabetes. Discuss how you as the nurse can help your patient understand the differences between Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes.

Answer 1

1. A 58-year-old man has recently been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. He should change his complete lifestyle to control his blood sugar.

effects of diet - A diet high with protein and fiber and low with carbohydrates and fats helps in controlling the blood sugar. Diet should be the primary change for a diabetic patient to control blood sugar.

effects of exercise - Regular mild to moderate exercise helps in better blood sugar control, It helps in weight loss and reduces diabetes complications.

Exercise can be a key factor in blood glucose control, exercise improves overall health, reduces cholesterol and also reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease which again helps in better blood sugar control.

effect of drug therapy - In type 2 diabetes patients are prescribed Oral hypoglycemic agents that act on different receptors(like some acts on live decrease production of sugar and some act on the pancreas and increases the production of insulin) to reduces blood sugar and also increases insulin sensitivity.

2.

Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes are different pathophysiology.

Type 1 Diabetes mellitus - It is also known as Insulin dependant Diabetes Mellitus, in which the beta cells of the pancreas are completely destroyed which stops the insulin secretion.

Due to the absence of insulin in the blood cells can not utilize the glucose which increases the blood sugar level. In this case the patient needs insulin injection to survive.

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus - It is also known as Non Insulin dependant Diabetes Mellitus, In this, there is decreased insulin production due to various factors and increased insulin sensitivity in the body.

Due to the lack of insulin production and insulin sensitivity body cells can not use glucose, In this case, we need some tablets (Oral hypoglycemic agents) and lifestyle changes to manage diabetes.