Medication in conjunction with
lifestyle modifications
Drugs
First-line
Medication
Biguanides
Increases insulin sensitivity, therefore increasing
glucose transport into tissues
Decreases glucagon, therefore
reducing glucose production
Can decrease A1C levels by
1%
If blood glucose hasn't improved, add another
medication
Thiazolidinediones
Increases insulin transport and sensitivity
on cell receptors
Improves insulin use at tissues
Sulfonylureas
Inhibits potassium channels on beta cells
Influx of calcium in beta
cells
Releases
insulin
If blood glucose still hasn't improved, add insulin to treatment
Insulin
Issues with insulin therapy
Hypoglycemia
Could be caused
by overdose of
insulin
Allergic Reaction
Lipodystrophy
Can result in areas of insulin if injection
site is unchanged
Somogyi Effect
Rebound effect from too
much insulin causing
hypohlycemia
Dawn Phenomenon
Hyperglycemia when waking in the morning due to
hormones that counter insulin during this time
Meglitinides
Increases insulin production
from beta cells in pancreas
Alpha-Glucosidase
Inhibitors
Slows carbohydrate
absorption
Nursing Care
Assessment
Patient's ability to perform ADL/iADL
Community Dwelling
Patients
Assisted Living
Facilities
Hospitalized Inpatients
Nursing Facility
(Long-term)
Mentally incompetent patients
Confused, cognitively dysfunctional, or delirious
Depression
Past health history
Viral infections
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
causes a change in the pathways that
regulate insulin levels
Hypertension in diabetic patients
Beta-blockers are not ideal
medications for diabetic
patients with HTN
Beta-blockers not ideal because they have
been shown to ↑ TG, ↓ HDL cholesterol,
heighten insulin resistance, induce
systemic weight gain, and mask
hypoglycemia.
Recent surgery
eg. CABG surgery alters body glucose
homeostasis and increases stress
causing HHS
Identify daily
basal rate and
bolus doses
Obese individuals are more likely
to develop T2D than overweight or
normal BMI individuals
Check for family history of diabetes
Planning
Actively engage patient to participate in
lowering blood glucose levels
Prevent or delay T2D complications
Prevent or eliminate acute hyperglycemic
emergencies or hypoglycemia
Maintain appropriate blood glucose
levels according to patient profile
Adjust lifestyle management with minimal stress
Implementation
Patient
Education
Travelling with
diabetes
Must continue medications as regular
Self-Management
Consider mentally incompetent
individuals. May require self-management
assistance
Offer regular diet and preferred food items
Offer food substitutions if meal intake is
<75%
Increase blood glucose monitoring during
acute mental status or behaviour changes
Depression
Assess and treat depression
Encourage physical
activity as possible
Encourage socialization, especially during meals
Consider physically incompetent individuals
ranging from the ability to perform ADLs
independently to ADL-dependent
individuals, to successfully apply
self-management skills
For hospitalized patients who require
temporary self-management assistance
Monitor BG levels as required based on patient
complexity and avoid relying on A1C levels due to
recent acute illness
For rehab patients who require
partial self-management assistance
Nursing staff monitor BG levels based on the
patient complexity of T2D and risks of
hypoglycemia. Use caution when
interpreting A1C levels as many conditions
interfere with A1C levels.
After discharge, patients need to be able to perform
self-care skills and informed about
self-adminstration skills for home management
For chronically ill patients who require full
or partial self-management assistance
Continuous nursing staff education
to provide T2D management
For community-dwelling patients who require no
self-management assistance (are fully independent)
Educate the patient in preventing Type 2 diabetes
complications and maintaining BG levels within
normal ranges
Plate Method
Prevent or delay T2D and its
complications
Encourage physical activity to
minimize the T2D effects of
overweight and obese individuals
For overweight adults 45 YO and up, provide
routine screening to monitor prognosis
For a Diagnosed T2 Diabetic
Inform patients of the risks of
poor blood glucose control
Advise healthy eating habits and nutrition levels and
help develop appropriate plate portions and meal
plans following Canada's Food Guide
Continue oral agents and
insulin therapy as prescribed
Track daily basal rates and
bolus doses to review
progression
Monitor BG levels according
to patient complexity of
regimen
Emotional Care
Evaluation
Review diet progression and connect
with overall health benefits
Follow-up with patient after
discharge and evaluate outcomes
of patient goals and treatments
A study showed that when nursing staff are actively involved in
patient therapy after discharge, including initial individual
meeting with an RN, attending a group class meeting for 1 to 2 h
(with 4-10 participants) once per week for 4 weeks, and
telephone follow-up calls for 1 year, resulted in greater mean
change in A1C and total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol
If diet has improved or if physical
activity has improved, the risks of
CVD would normally decrease
Check if there are any issues with blood
glucose control. If it is poorly controlled, then...
Check for the absence of
injuries
Collaborative Care
Dietitian
Works with the patient, RN and the
patient's health care team to develop a
meal plan, appropriate plating portion,
and guidelines to healthy eating habits -
get ready for the yummy fruits and
veggies!
Chiropodist
Foot care specialist
who is trained to
trim the toe nails of a
diabetic patient's
foot - I promise he
won't bite!
Diabetes Nurse Educator
An RN with specialized training and education
in teaching self-management goals, skills, and
diabetic complications unique to each individual
Arranges Diabetes Education Programs
for patients interested in receiving
support for diabetes management
Pharmacist
Provides more information
on medications and their
interactions
Optometrist
Uses various vision
tests to check for
and determine
retinal blood vessel
damage
Cardiologist and Cardiac
Rehabilitation
Angioplasty or CABG procedures
performed to restore heart function
Cardiac Rehab provides counseling and
training on exercise, education for
heart-healthy living and stress management
therapies
Nephrologist
Community Organizations
Raises awareness and health promotion strategies to
prevent or delay T2D and associating complications
such as providing support and services leading to
improved self-management goals and skills
Pathophysiology
Who could this affect?
Over 35 years of age
Risk increases with age
Family history
80%-90% of patients
are overweight
Due to increase intake of food, insulin is
constantly being produced
Insulin receptors on cells become desensitized to
insulin
Aboriginal
Hispanic
South Asian
Asian
African
Has higher risk
What is Diabetes Mellitus Type 2?
The body normally goes through the following
cycle to maintain 4 to 6 mmol/L of glucose
When you eat food, glucose begins building up in the blood
Beta cells on Islets of Langerhans on
the pancreas secrete insulin
Insulin "unlocks" receptors on cells
This step in the cycle is the main
problem for patients with type 2
diabetes
Insulin Resistance
Insulin receptors on cells do not get
"unlocked" by insulin due to receptors
being unresponsive or loss of receptors
entirely
Glucose begins to build up in the
bloodstream
Results in hyperglycemia
and Type 2 Diabetes
Analogy: When you put on glasses for the first time, you become very aware that they're on your nose and ears. But over
time, those sensations begin to dim until you forget that the glasses are even on your nose!
Cells receive glucose to use for
energy
Lowers blood glucose levels
as the glucose passes out of
the bloodstream
Alpha cells on liver secrete
glucagon
Abnormal glucose production
from liver could aid in
development of type 2
diabetes
Promotes conversion of glycogen to
glucose
Pancreas still makes insulin, but could
produce less because of fatigue
Beta-cell mass loss
Analogy: This is just one of the components of the homeostatic elements that our body goes through. It
very much works like a thermometer. It detects levels of glucose in the environment, and releases
elements to counteract them if they become to rampant.
Complications
Hyperosmolar Hyperglycemic
Syndrome
BG levels rise immensely and
leads to severe dehydration
and very dark urine
Hypoglycemia
Happens when there's too much
glucose compared to insulin
Tremors
Hunger
Excessive
Sweating
Macrovascular
Angiopathy
increased risk of heart diseases such as CAD and ACS
which can lead to increased risk of mortality
Microvascular
Angiopathy
Diabetic Retinopathy
Retinal blood vessels are damaged and can cause
impaired vision and/or blindness
Diabetic Nephropathy
Glomerular arterioles
damaged and increases
the risk of kidney disease
and excretion of proteins
in urine
Diabetic Neuropathy
Peripheral nerves damaged and
increases susceptibility to injuries
without being aware of it
Foot and lower extremity
Gangrene
Skin complications
Decreased blood circulation lead to
changes in collagen, changing
appearance