skin care
Instructed SO on how symptoms differ among individuals, depending on the severity of the case: sensitivity to cold temperature, dry skin, constipation, forgetfulness, chronic fatigue, decreased heart rate, depression, hair loss, weight gain, muscle stiffness and cramping, lack of facial expression, enlarged tongue.
Instructed patient about possible complications of urinary incontinence, such as, urinary tract infections (cloudy, foul-smelling, urine), depression and loss of self-esteem, skin breakdown, etc.
Instructed patient on how the most effective way to prevent infections is by frequent hand washing. That is the first line of defense that our body has. Hands may spread hundreds of microorganisms to our clothes, meals, environment or skin.
Instructed patient about the most common types of infection in diabetic patients, for example: skin, subcutaneous tissue, and renal and pulmonary infections.
Instructed patient about the appropriate measures to prevent foot problems, such as: always wear properly fitted shoes and examine feet every day for sores and signs of infections. Check for blisters, cuts, sores and/or cracked skin. Check for pebbles, rough seams or anything else that might irritate your foot. Patient verbalized understanding.
Instructed patient about the management of infections: bathing everyday with a mild soap and lukewarm water, applying lotion to keep skin moist, wearing gloves when working outside, always wearing shoes and treating injuries promptly by cleaning with soap and water.
Instructed patient on possible adverse reactions to insulin, which include hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, and skin rash and local reaction at injection site.
Instructed patient on how to recognize S/S low blood sugar, such as, fatigue, headache, drowsiness, tremors, paleness, moist skin, hunger, anxiety, and impared vision.
Patient was instructed on measures to decrease fat in diet, such as foods should be baked, broiled, or boiled instead of fried. Trim visible fat from meats and remove skin from poultry. Substitute fish or chicken for beef, pork or lamb. Use skim milk instead of whole milk.
Patient was instructed on nerve damage as a complication of diabetes. Because of the lost sense of feeling in the extremities it is possible to not feel any discomfort in the feet, and it is also possible to develop sores that can turn into skin ulcers without being aware of it.