Free Essay Example: Patient Education and Self-Management

Diabetes

1. Education on diabetes self-management

A diabetes test was conducted using the glycerate hemoglobin test (A1c). This test also determines your control of diabetes. The normal ranges for the A1c test should be less than 5.7% for people without diabetes, 5.7-6.4% for the pre-diabetics, and above 6.5% for the person with diabetes. The values for your test were 5.2%; this is a normal value. Early signs for diabetes include increased headache, blurred vision, increased thirst, frequent urination, and fatigue.

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2. Pathophysiological factors

The diabetes pathophysiology is related to the levels of insulin in the body and the body's ability to utilize insulin; it involves plasma glucose concentrations. Type 1 diabetes pathophysiology consists of the attack of insulin-producing beta cells by the immune system. A relative insulin deficiency causes type two diabetes pathophysiology. Pathophysiology symptoms include poor wound recovery, kidney damage, weight loss, and heart disease.

3. Meal Planning

Your diet should incorporate fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lean amounts of protein for the prevention of diabetes. The "create your plate" strategy is very important in regulating blood sugar levels and would work effectively; it involves minimizing starch and maximizing on non-starch, such as fibers. On your plate, draw a line to divide into two half, on one half draw another line to split into two, the biggest portion should be filled with non-starchy foods. Proteins and starch should take the rest of the two parts, further your diet with a fruit serving.

Asthma

1. Patient education on asthma self-management

Asthma is a lung condition that causes swelling and irritation in the airways. As a result, asthmatic patients experience coughing and wheezing or even shortness of breath. The airways are those tubes responsible for taking air in and out of your lungs. A spirometry and peak flow test was conducted; the spirometry test gave an approximation of the narrowing of your bronchioles through testing for the volume of air you exhaled. You are asthmatic, but your condition is mild

2. Controlling asthma triggers

Since your airways are swollen, they will always be more reactive than normal to triggers, which irritate them; these triggers include pollen and dust. The muscles found in the airways may also contract during irritation, which makes it difficult to breathe. Asthma being a chronic disease means that you may live with it for your entirety; therefore, you need to understand the signs and triggers for trigger prevention. The triggers for asthma in your situation are pollen and mold; therefore, avoid contact with these triggers.

3. Asthma emergency, Diet, Exercise, and Other Lifestyle Changes

In case of an asthma attack, sit up straight, and maintain your posture, ensure you do not lie down at all costs. Inhale one puff of a reliever, it's already in your medication, within the range of every 30 seconds with a maximum of 10 puffs. When the symptoms worsen after the ten puffs or do not get better, immediately seek medical attention, our contact is at the top of this page. It will only take ten minutes before help comes your way. Consume more vitamin D found in substances such as milk and eggs. Maintain a healthy weight as overweight is a risk factor for asthma.

Dehydration

1. Patient education

Dehydration is the condition resulting from excessive water loss from the body. Approximately two-thirds of the human body is formed by water; the body also needs water to function properly. Dehydration may be from water loss or both water and mineral loss. The human body further needs the right water and mineral balance to keep the organs such as the heart and kidney function. Dehydration is caused by too much vomiting or diarrhea, excessive sweating, and increased urination. Risk factors for dehydration include people with chronic illnesses, athletes, people working in hot weather, and the elderly.

2. Dehydration self-management

You were diagnosed with dehydration using physical symptoms. Your blood pressure appeared to be below average, and further confirmation was made using blood tests, which indicated low levels of sodium and potassium. However, since your dehydration case is mild, water alone is enough to restore your conditions. Avoid coffee, tea, or alcoholic drinks; these drinks are diuretics; they might cause further dehydration.

3. Emergency for dehydration

Serious dehydration conditions may require you to report to the doctor immediately. Symptoms for an alarm include; seizures, confusion, weak or rapid pulse, fatigue, and dizziness, especially when you stand.

Infection

Patient education, pathophysiology, and self-management

An infection occurs when a foreign organism finds its way into your body and causes disease. These organisms may include viruses, bacteria, or fungi. Infections are acquired in different ways, such as directly from an infected person, through contaminated food or insect bites. According to your symptoms, there was no sign of infection. However, to prevent yourself from falling victim to viruses, you should maintain high levels of hygiene. Frequently wash your hands and dispose of waste appropriately. The risk factor for infections includes pre-existing factors of undernutrition. You need to maintain a balanced diet. Infections may cause low blood pressures, also termed as sepsis. Sepsis may be fatal and even cause death.

Wound care

Patient education, pathophysiology, and self-management

An open wound is an injury involving body breakouts, both internal and external, including the skin. Through observation, your wound appeared yellow-green and produced a foul smell. Your wound was also swollen with redness around the wounded region; you also showed signs of fever, which is an affirmation of wound infection. Wounds are dangerous to your health as they form an opening at which you can contract a bacterial infection. To prevent that, you will consume oral antibiotics as per the prescription to enhance the flush of the wound I conducted using stronger antibiotics. It is expected that your wound will form pockets and discharge pus, therefore do not panic when that occurs. You will also have to keep that wound dry for the first 24 hours after discharge.

Medication: What do I need to know about my medication? Are there any side effects? For your asthmatic condition, you will use Fluticasone (Flovent HFA). Consistency in inhaling this drug will ensure reduced swelling and tightening of your airways. Expected side effects are yeast infections around the mouth region and throat irritation. I will recommend you use a metered inhaler if so, ensure you rinse your mouth after each use to reduce the drug amount remaining in your mouth.

Activity

While bathing, ensure the wound remains dry; to achieve this, you can wrap the wound with a bandage. What if the dressing soaks in the water? Since the bandage might absorb from water, ensure you change immediately after taking a shower. Do not use body lotion, shower gels, or any other form of bathing products over the healing wound, as this might delay the healing process. Regarding your asthmatic conditions, breathe under a scarf in cold conditions, warm yourself up and avoid external activities that might expose you to pollen or dust.

Diet

Should I change my diet? Your diet should concentrate more on green vegetables and fruits but do not ignore proteins and carbohydrates. Recommended proteins include eggs, beans, nuts, and poultry, for the fruits consume more berries and broccoli. Consider brown rice and brown whole wheat bread when the need arises.

Follow up

Your next appointment is on 8th August 2020. If your wound does not dry up within the first three days from discharge, you should contact the hospital. Your asthma dosage is only prone to causing side effects such as throat irritation and oral yeast infections if anything outside of this occurs, you need to report to us with immediate effect. All the drug instructions have been included in the containers, ensure you strictly adhere to the dosage instructions. Underdosage and overdosage could cause serious risks to your health.

References

Chester, B., Babu, J. R., Greene, M. W., & Geetha, T. (2019). The effects of popular diets on type 2 diabetes management. Diabetes/metabolism research and reviews, 35(8), e3188.

Edwards, D. M., & Sell, L. R. (2020). Early identification of dehydration with orthostatic blood pressure monitoring in high-output ileostomy patients. Gastrointestinal Nursing, 18(2), 28-32.

Edwards, J. E., Garro, A. C., Congdon, E. A., Frackiewicz, L. M., & Hipolito, E. R. (2018). A randomized controlled trial of a point-of-care computerized intervention to improve family knowledge of environmental triggers for children with asthma.

Merrill, J. D., Soliman, D., Kumar, N., Lim, S., Shariff, A. I., & Yancy, W. S. (2020). Low-Carbohydrate and Very-Low-Carbohydrate Diets in Patients with Diabetes. Diabetes Spectrum, 33(2), 133-142.