Chronic Illness Case Study: Type 1 Untreated Diabetes
Chronic Illness Paper
Mr. KT is a 28 year old, 200 pound, 5-foot 8-inch, unemployed drug addict at the Grays Harbor community hospital. He started using drugs at age 13, starting with alcohol and marijuana, and eventually landing with methamphetamine (was smoking one gram of meth/day).
His emaciated appearance connotes disorganization and poor hygiene. He has short, dark brown hair with a bald spot on the back of his head. His diagnosis is Type 1 Untreated Diabetes (Chronic Hyperglycemic). He was admitted to the hospital for treatment of an abscess of the mouth and is awaiting a surgical operation for an incision to drain the upper-lip abscess.
The best possible outcome for my patient of diabetes is that he learns to understand …show more content…
He is already experiencing depression, which may develop into severe depression and ultimately suicide.
Left untreated, his hyperglycemia can lead to ketoacidosis (a diabetic coma), which develops when a body lacks the sufficient amount of insulin to consume glucose. Consequently, the body burns fats to use for energy. When a body breaks down fats, ketones (waste products) are produced, which the body cannot tolerate in large amounts (it tries to rid them through urine). Ketone accumulation in the blood forms the basis of ketoacidosis.
Diabetes often results in increased potential for surgical procedures and postoperative morbidity and mortality. Hyperglycemia can result in poorer wound healing, increased susceptibility to infection, and probable loss of administered nutrients through glycosuria. In postoperative management of most diabetic patients, using insulin provides substantial versatility benefits in terms of timing and …show more content…
Currently, the time between initial admission to final discharge is typically restricted to 48 hours with most patients being discharged in less than a day, which is not sufficient to complete a thorough treatment plan that includes knowledge sharing and application/training. Had the nursing staff more time to administer care, the best time would have been after surgery, when all the tests were completed and medications dispensed, the patient had food in his stomach, his blood sugar level was under control, and his pain was under control. But by that time, his discharge was imminent.
References
Laberge, Monique P.H.D. “Diabetes Mellitus Type 1”. Gale Health Collection, http://galenet.galegroup.com.ezproxy.kcls.org/servlet/HWRC/hits?r=d&bucket=all&n=10&m=Diabetes+Mellitus, 2011.
Laberge, Monique, P.H.D. “Postoperative management of the diabetic patient.” PubMed.gov, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11565495, September 2001.
Rodgers, Griffin P., M.D., M.A.C.P., Director National Institute of Diabetes. “Five facts about diabetes.” National diabetic education program, http://ndep.nih.gov/resources/ResourceDetail.aspx?ResId=235, August 2011
Wisse, Brent, M.D., Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology & Nutrition, University of Washington School of Medicine. “Type 1 Diabetes.” Medline Plus, http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000305.htm,
Mr. KT is a 28 year old, 200 pound, 5-foot 8-inch, unemployed drug addict at the Grays Harbor community hospital. He started using drugs at age 13, starting with alcohol and marijuana, and eventually landing with methamphetamine (was smoking one gram of meth/day).
His emaciated appearance connotes disorganization and poor hygiene. He has short, dark brown hair with a bald spot on the back of his head. His diagnosis is Type 1 Untreated Diabetes (Chronic Hyperglycemic). He was admitted to the hospital for treatment of an abscess of the mouth and is awaiting a surgical operation for an incision to drain the upper-lip abscess.
The best possible outcome for my patient of diabetes is that he learns to understand …show more content…
He is already experiencing depression, which may develop into severe depression and ultimately suicide.
Left untreated, his hyperglycemia can lead to ketoacidosis (a diabetic coma), which develops when a body lacks the sufficient amount of insulin to consume glucose. Consequently, the body burns fats to use for energy. When a body breaks down fats, ketones (waste products) are produced, which the body cannot tolerate in large amounts (it tries to rid them through urine). Ketone accumulation in the blood forms the basis of ketoacidosis.
Diabetes often results in increased potential for surgical procedures and postoperative morbidity and mortality. Hyperglycemia can result in poorer wound healing, increased susceptibility to infection, and probable loss of administered nutrients through glycosuria. In postoperative management of most diabetic patients, using insulin provides substantial versatility benefits in terms of timing and …show more content…
Currently, the time between initial admission to final discharge is typically restricted to 48 hours with most patients being discharged in less than a day, which is not sufficient to complete a thorough treatment plan that includes knowledge sharing and application/training. Had the nursing staff more time to administer care, the best time would have been after surgery, when all the tests were completed and medications dispensed, the patient had food in his stomach, his blood sugar level was under control, and his pain was under control. But by that time, his discharge was imminent.
References
Laberge, Monique P.H.D. “Diabetes Mellitus Type 1”. Gale Health Collection, http://galenet.galegroup.com.ezproxy.kcls.org/servlet/HWRC/hits?r=d&bucket=all&n=10&m=Diabetes+Mellitus, 2011.
Laberge, Monique, P.H.D. “Postoperative management of the diabetic patient.” PubMed.gov, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11565495, September 2001.
Rodgers, Griffin P., M.D., M.A.C.P., Director National Institute of Diabetes. “Five facts about diabetes.” National diabetic education program, http://ndep.nih.gov/resources/ResourceDetail.aspx?ResId=235, August 2011
Wisse, Brent, M.D., Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology & Nutrition, University of Washington School of Medicine. “Type 1 Diabetes.” Medline Plus, http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000305.htm,