Diabetes
This resource is required reading and provides an excellent framework for the different types of diabetes and provides a strong example of effective patient education in heath promotion through effective disease management and lifestyle modification. Link to Content
Chronic Complications of DM
• Improved medical management of DM results in long term survival (American Diabetes Association, 2016)
• Chronic pathological changes and conditions evolve over time
– Neuropathy: progressive increases in pain and sensation changes/sensory loss
• Neuropathy in autonomic nervous system can lead to impaired regulation of heart, lung function, and/or other function = high risk for silent MI (heart attack without angina)
– Cardiovascular disease leads to increased risk for MI
– Nephropathy leads to kidney failure
– Retinopathy leads to visual changes/loss of vision
– Impaired wound healing can lead to amputation
– Higher infection risk associated with hyperglycemia
Medical Management of DM (Type II)
- Insulin replacement: oral/injectable or insulin infusion pump located generally along the belt line
- Diet
- Exercise
- In a three-month research study trial, persons with diabetes who engaged in exercise (Taylor et. al. 2014) experienced:
- Gains in muscle strength tested with resistance
- Increased exercise capacity
- Improvements in physical function
Patient education in health promotion and self-management