The Effectiveness of Patient Education in the Management of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Introduction
According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), Diabetes Mellitus continues to rise in the United States with almost 30 million children and adults being diagnosed with diabetes. Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus accounts for the majority of the diagnoses, with percentages of all cases being as high as 90-95% (ADA, 2014). The need for further patient education by nurses has increased due to the expanding number of diabetic patients. Glucose control is essential in not only the promotion of health, but in the prevention of long-term complication and/or comorbidities. However, by increasing the focus on patient education and encouraging …show more content…
The standard of care is now patient-centered education, responsive to the individual patient’s needs and preferences. In addition to the education, the patient’s commitment and compliance to lifestyle changes are necessary to achieve optimal care. Therefore, it is imperative that healthcare practitioners work to engage the patient’s conversations about the disease and lifestyle changes, such as diet, exercise and medications that would reduce the risks of long-term complications. Other helpful steps would be implementing effective communication with sharing crucial information, encouragement of active listening and insisting on feedback that is relevant to the patient’s concerns for accomplishing positive outcomes (Robertson, 2012). Studies have shown Diabetes Mellitus to be the seventh leading cause of death and one of the leading causes of disability in the United States. The complications that arise with this disease, in conjunction with insufficient knowledge, …show more content…
The management of the disease requires multidisciplinary efforts and utilization of all the information and resources that the nurse has gathered to obtain positive results. The changes being made can reduce patients’ anxiety and depression about the diagnosis due to lack of knowledge and understanding. It is important to spread awareness of the disease and the disease process, to alleviate fear and confusion of the diagnosis while taking the preventative measures needed for prediabetes. Patients need to be well informed and empowered as to the areas over which they have control, including the power and control to manage lifestyle, food choices, exercise, taking proper medication and seeking additional support systems to alter the progression of this disease process (Robertson, 2012; Evans,
Introduction
According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), Diabetes Mellitus continues to rise in the United States with almost 30 million children and adults being diagnosed with diabetes. Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus accounts for the majority of the diagnoses, with percentages of all cases being as high as 90-95% (ADA, 2014). The need for further patient education by nurses has increased due to the expanding number of diabetic patients. Glucose control is essential in not only the promotion of health, but in the prevention of long-term complication and/or comorbidities. However, by increasing the focus on patient education and encouraging …show more content…
The standard of care is now patient-centered education, responsive to the individual patient’s needs and preferences. In addition to the education, the patient’s commitment and compliance to lifestyle changes are necessary to achieve optimal care. Therefore, it is imperative that healthcare practitioners work to engage the patient’s conversations about the disease and lifestyle changes, such as diet, exercise and medications that would reduce the risks of long-term complications. Other helpful steps would be implementing effective communication with sharing crucial information, encouragement of active listening and insisting on feedback that is relevant to the patient’s concerns for accomplishing positive outcomes (Robertson, 2012). Studies have shown Diabetes Mellitus to be the seventh leading cause of death and one of the leading causes of disability in the United States. The complications that arise with this disease, in conjunction with insufficient knowledge, …show more content…
The management of the disease requires multidisciplinary efforts and utilization of all the information and resources that the nurse has gathered to obtain positive results. The changes being made can reduce patients’ anxiety and depression about the diagnosis due to lack of knowledge and understanding. It is important to spread awareness of the disease and the disease process, to alleviate fear and confusion of the diagnosis while taking the preventative measures needed for prediabetes. Patients need to be well informed and empowered as to the areas over which they have control, including the power and control to manage lifestyle, food choices, exercise, taking proper medication and seeking additional support systems to alter the progression of this disease process (Robertson, 2012; Evans,