A newly diagnosed diabetic may be filled with unwarranted negative emotions that must be allayed if their condition is to be managed successfully. Too much fear and anxiety brought about by the diagnosis may affect self-management by causing the patient to unconsciously exaggerate the medications or by taking none at all. The lot of questions running in a newly diagnosed patient’s mind must be answered in a way that will be most clearly understood. In addition, myths and false beliefs must be quickly corrected especially in this critical part of the management of the patient’s condition.
The first thing that must be told to a newly diagnosed patient is that diabetes, although serious, is not a death sentence, and can be managed easily and effectively without the need to be monitored every day by a health practitioner. The patient must be told that it is enough that his or her lifestyle be guided by bits of knowledge that will allow him to take control of the situation. For this reason, it is important that the patient be told all the facts about his situation including an overview of what diabetes is; his type of diabetes; and other conditions that must affect the management and care of the condition. These include the effects of the present conditions associated with diabetes and the possible future implications of having it.
In its simplest sense, diabetes is a condition when the body becomes incapable of maintaining normal blood sugar levels which mostly affects the body’s metabolism, circulation, and in serious cases, excretion. This happens when the body becomes either incapable of producing enough of the hormone insulin; or incapable of using what insulin is produced by the body. The hormone, insulin is necessary for the assimilation of glucose by the cells from the blood. Without it, glucose will remain highly concentrated in the blood—a characteristic physiological feature of diabetes.
Diabetes can either by Type 1 or Type 2. Type 1 Diabetes, also called the insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) presents itself during the juvenile stage of the person’s life. This is believed to be caused by genetic, and some environmental factors such as an unidentified virus which may stimulate the autoimmune attack against the glands that produce insulin. People with this type of diabetes usually have difficulty in gaining weight. In this type of diabetes, the pancreas itself does not produce enough insulin. Meaning, a patient with Type 1 is required to take strict and regular insulin shots at specific times of the day to supplement his or her lacking hormone. The diet must be carefully calculated to control the glucose concentration. Needless to say, home blood glucose testing must be done several times of the day (Newly Diagnosed with Diabetes, 2008).
Meanwhile, Type 2 Diabetes accounts for most cases of diabetes. This type of diabetes is usually diagnosed during adulthood and is caused by poor lifestyle, age, family history, race, and prior history of gestational diabetes. Most at risk for this type are African-Americans, Hispanics, and American Indians. The most common treatment of this type is through diet control, increased physical activity, and regular blood glucose testing. In some cases, oral medication or insulin shots are also given (Newly Diagnosed with Diabetes, 2008).
In any type of diabetes, what is understood is that the nature of the condition may cause serious complications that must be avoided through proper management. Specifically, a person with diabetes is highly at-risk of having cardiovascular diseases, so advice on the adverse effects of smoking; control of blood pressure and certain medications if necessary must be given. Regular eye-screening must be done to check if there are indications of eye complications and neuropathy. Ace-inhibitors can be started in patients with microalbuminuria and proteinuria. Serum urea, electrolytes and creatinine, as well as liver function tests must also be examined (The Newly Diagnosed Diabetic, 2007).
Works Cited
Newly Diagnosed with Diabetes. (2008). Diabetes.co.uk. Retrieved 15 May 2008 from http://www.diabetes.co.uk/newly-diagnosed.html.
The Newly Diagnosed Diabetic (2007). Patient.co.uk. Retrieved 15 Ma 2008 from http://www.patient.co.uk/showdoc/40000917/.