Nursing Managing of Diabetes Sherpath

A patient with type 2 diabetes calls the health care provider's office and reports having the flu. Which instructions should the nurse give the patient?

"Continue taking your insulin and/or oral agent." *When a patient with diabetes becomes ill, the blood glucose level increases. Therefore the nurse should instruct the patient to continue taking insulin and/or an oral agent. "Increase oral fluid intake to prevent dehydration." *The nurse should instruct the patient to increase oral fluid intake to prevent dehydration, since the patient has the flu. "Increase your carbohydrate intake to prevent further nausea." *The nurse should instruct the patient to increase intake of carbohydrates. Doing so will decrease nausea.

The nurse is educating a patient with type 1 diabetes about disease self-management. Which statement indicates the patient understands the instructions given?

"I will record my blood glucose levels in a log book and bring these to my appointments." *The patient should record blood glucose levels in a log book and bring this to all appointments with the health care provider.

The nurse is educating a patient about proper foot care. Which statement made by the patient indicates a need for further teaching?

"I will soak my feet in Epsom salts every night." *The patient with diabetes should not soak his or her feet because doing so can cause maceration and skin breakdown.

Which statement made by a patient with new-onset type 1 diabetes indicates a need for further education?

"I will use the pad of my finger to obtain blood for a blood glucose level." *The patient should use the side of the finger, not the pad, to obtain blood for blood glucose monitoring.

Which instruction should the nurse include when teaching a patient with type 1 diabetes about self-management?

"Keep your fasting blood glucose level below 125 mg/dL." *When the patient with diabetes keeps his or her fasting blood glucose level below 125 mg/dL, this indicates good blood glucose control. The nurse should include this information in the instructions for a patient with diabetes.

A patient with diabetes is admitted to the hospital for a colon resection as treatment for cancer. Which actions should the nurse include in the plan of care to manage the patient's diabetes?

Administer insulin subcutaneously as prescribed. *When a patient with diabetes is hospitalized for any reason, the nurse is responsible for managing the patient's diabetes. Therefore the nurse will administer insulin as prescribed. Provide foot care every shift and assess for ulcers. *When a patient with diabetes is hospitalized for any reason, the nurse is responsible for managing the patient's diabetes. Every shift, the nurse should assess the feet of a patient with diabetes for ulcers. Assess the abdominal incision for signs of infection. *The nurse is responsible for assessing incisions for signs of infection when caring for a patient with diabetes

The home health nurse visits a patient with a new diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. Which patient finding would prompt the nurse to provide further education?

Consistently skipping meals *Patients with diabetes should eat regularly scheduled meals to prevent hypoglycemia. The nurse should educate the patient about the importance of eating on time and not skipping meals.

A nurse is caring for a newly admitted patient with type 1 diabetes. Which assessment finding would cause the nurse to implement interventions for hyperglycemia?

Dry mouth *A dry mouth is a symptom of hyperglycemia. The nurse should intervene to decrease the patient's blood sugar when a dry mouth has been noted.

Which action should the nurse take first when a patient's capillary blood glucose reading is 63 mg/dL?

Give the patient a snack that equals 15 g of carbohydrates. *When a patient has symptoms of hypoglycemia, the nurse should give the patient 15 g of carbohydrates to increase the blood glucose level.

Which interventions should the nurse perform for a patient with diabetes who appears confused and responds to questions with irritation?

Give the patient a snack. *The patient is exhibiting signs of hypoglycemia, and the nurse should give the patient a snack to increase the blood glucose level. Check the patient's blood glucose level. *The patient is exhibiting signs of hypoglycemia, and the nurse should check the patient's blood glucose level to confirm this.

After the initial assessment of a new patient, the nurse notices a fruity smell on the patient's breath and rapid, deep breathing. Which actions should the nurse take to address these symptoms?

Notify the health care provider. *The nurse should notify the health care provider of this finding because this patient is exhibiting signs of diabetic ketoacidosis. Check the patient's capillary glucose level. *This patient is exhibiting signs of diabetic ketoacidosis, so the nurse should check the patient's capillary glucose level.

The nurse is caring for a patient admitted to the hospital with no history of diabetes but who has a blood glucose level consistently greater than 200 mg/dL. Which action should the nurse take?

Review the patient's current medication list. *The nurse should review the patient's current medication list because many drugs can increase the blood glucose level.