including damage eyes retinopathy which can lead blindness damage nerves neuropathy
Others
Patient was instructed on irregular breathing. Irregular breathing will hamper the purification process and cause waste products to remain in circulation. Digestion will then become irregular, leaving tissues and organs undernourished. Improper oxygen consumption will thus ultimately lead to fatigue and heightened anxiety states.
SN instructed patient that diabetes may lead to skin problems that range from itching to infections that are hard to control. To reduce your chances for getting skin problems, take good care of your skin every day: Bathe daily with mild soap and lukewarm water. Apply a small amount of moisturizing lotion while your skin is moist. Avoid scratches, punctures, and other injuries.
SN instructed on hyperthermia. Explained that hyperthermia is when the body's core temperature is below the normal and one start to shiver tremendously which and can turn worse into a glassy stare, pale in color, even frost bite, also altered mental status if severe enough. If by chance pt or any loved one was to start experiencing this, and if in wet clothes, one must get out of them into warm dry clothes. Gradually start warming the body with blankets and avoid giving any liquids if in the stage of altered mental state, due to possibility of person going unconscious. Never give person alcohol, or anything with caffeine. Skin to skin contact can help bring ones body temperature up. If frost bit occurs, one can warm body part usually fingers and toes up in warm to hot water up to 110degrees by soaking for awhile, if person is going to moved out of warm place do not re-warm feet just apply 4x4's in-between toes to avoid them sticking to each other.
If your big toe slants sharply in toward your other toes, with a big bump on the knuckle of your big toe, you've got a classic bunion. Corns are spots of thick, rough skin, where the tissue builds up on toes constantly barraged by too much rubbing or pressure. A buckled-under toe, called a hammertoe, can result from muscle weakness caused by diabetic nerve damage. All of these make it hard to fit shoes comfortably. But a good podiatrist can help you fix these problems and take better care of your feet.
Instructed on emergency preparedness. Planning ahead to ensure adequate care in case of severe weather or natural disaster is imperative. Here are a few key tips that warrant consideration in any elderly person’s disaster plan: Create an emergency contact card listing all of the emergency contact numbers and family information, including a list of doctors and relatives or friends who should be notified in case of injury. Discuss what to do in case of an emergency. Create a “disaster kit” that includes: Water for three days, Non-perishable food for three days (examples include protein and fruit bars, dried fruit, nuts, peanut butter, crackers, canned juices and canned food), plus a manual can opener Battery-operated radio with extra batteries, Flashlight with plenty of extra batteries Change of clothes, plus extra blankets First aid supplies, Prescription medicine list, plus copies of prescriptions Extra eyeglasses and hearing-aid batteries, Copies of medical insurance and Medicare cards, Some cash on hand, as a bank or ATM machine may be inaccessible Extra warm clothing
Patient was instructed on Dry mouth. That is caused by reduced saliva flow, whichcan be a result of medications. While advancing age impairs the sense of taste, diseases, medications and dentures can diminishes sense of taste.
Patient was instructed on foot care: a podiatrist can also fit patient with shoe inserts called orthotics to support the feet if have diabetic nerve pain or the muscles have become weak from nerve damage. If pain or weakness is so severe that it's too painful or even impossible to walk, a foot brace or orthopedic shoes might help. Further teaching is needed.
Instructed patient What are some of the benefits of the care wear PICC line cover. The PICC line cover is antimicrobial.
It is machine washable and can be machine dried with the rest of the laundry. The PICC line cover has a unique mesh
window that allows for air to get into the dressing which is required for the dressing to be fully functional.
Instructed patient to get a flu shot each year and decrease the exposure to the flu. Avoiding the flu is especially important for people who have or are at risk for heart disease. This highly contagious infection causes symptoms similar to the common cold, only more severe, other symptoms include debilitating muscle or body aches, vomiting and diarrhea, and fever. Having a serious infection puts extra stress on your heart, which increases your heart's need for oxygen. Coughing and congestion can make breathing more difficult. As a result, your heart may not get sufficient oxygen. Patient verbalized understanding.
Patient was instructed about the skin damage: the skin may be dry and cracked because of high glucose levels, and cracked skin means it's easier for bacteria to get under the skin and harder for infections to heal. Use a small amount of skin lotion daily, to be sure the feet feel dry - not damp or sticky - afterwards. Try not to get the lotion in between the toes. Keep the toenails trimmed and filed smooth to avoid ingrown toenails. Further teaching is needed.