Diabetes Flashcards
Key teaching points in blood glucose (BG) monitoring
side of finger (hurts less)
clean hands before hand with soap and water (alcohol obstructs reading)
get good enough sample size
timing (when to test BG)
what are their target ranges?
how to calibrate the meter
strips need to be away from oxygen (in dark container)
date of strips expire
dispose of strips and lancets properly
how to clean/charge the machine
squeezing finger too much adds serum to the blood and get bad reading
Exercise
- lowers BG
- if BG over 250 mg/dL plus have ketones in urine don’t exercise
- bring 15g snack when exercising
Nutrition
Goals:
- Keep blood sugars with in normal.
- Attain or maintain a reasonable body weight
- Optimum lipid levels
- BP less than 130/80
- Enough calories to meet metabolic needs.
Insulin Types
Very short acting
Short acting (Regular)
Immediate acting
Long-acting
Very short-acting insulin (aka RAPID acting)
Types: NovoLog and Humalog
Onset: within 10-15 mins.
Peak: 1 hr.
Duration: 3-5 hrs.
Short-acting (REGULAR) insulin
Types: Humulin-R and Novolin-R
Onset: within 10 to 60 mins.
Peak: 2-3 hrs.
Duration: 4-6 hrs.
Immediate-acting insulin (NPH)
Types: NPH aka Humulin-N and Novolin-N
Onset: 2-4 hrs.
Peak: 6-8 hrs.
Duration: 12-16 hrs.
Long-acting insulin
Types: Lantus and Levemir
Onset: 2 hrs.
Peak: not defined
Duration: 24hrs. (20-26 hrs.)
Insulin dose types
Basal insulin - given to return body to normal basal rate of insulin output. (It’s not for the food you eat; it’s for everything else insulin has to do in your body). A Diabetic patient puts out 15-30 units in a 24 hour period; half of that is basal insulin
Correctional insulin - give to correct elevated blood sugar
Nutritional (prandial) insulin - give when pt tries to eat, this type attempts to imitate body’s normal response to eating
Sxs of HypERglycemia
“Hot and dry, sugar high”
- dry skin
- flushing
- frequent urination
- trouble focusing
- HA
- fatigue
- irritability
Sxs of HyPOglycemia
“Cold and clammy, need some candy”
- blood glucose low
- confusion/HA
- irritability
- diaphoresis
- trembling
- slurred speech
- LOC, coma, seizure, death
HYPOglycmia treatment
if responsive, give 15g of carbs, wait 15mins and check BG, then give 15g more of carbs if necessary
if unresponsive in hospital, IV of 25 to 50 mL of D50W
if unresponsive outside hospital, give 1mg glucagon IM and call ambulance
Sxs of DKA
- acidosis
- Kussmal breathing
- fruity breath
- osmotic diuresis/dehydration
- electrolyte loss
- N/V and abdominal pain
- weakness
- hypotension
- lethargy/coma/death
Diagnostic findings of DKA
- Glucose >250
- Serum pH 6.8 -7.3 (Arterial and venous blood must maintain a slightly alkaline pH: arterial blood pH = 7.41 and venous blood pH = 7.36.)
- Low serum bicarb (CO2)
- Serum and urine ketones
- Glucose in the urine
- Abnormal electrolytes
Treatment of DKA
- fluid replacement: initially use NS 500ml to 1L for 2-3 hrs., then use .45%NS. May need 6-10L
- insulin: IV; do hourly glucose checks
- restore electrolytes: insulin carries K into cells so monitor for hypokalemia
- reverse acidosis: done with insulin; change IV fluids to D5W or when BG reaches