Nursing Priorities for Diabetic Patients

Running head: NURSING PRIORITIES FOR DIABETIC PATIENTS 1
Nursing Priorities for Diabetic Patients
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NURSING PRIORITIES FOR DIABETIC PATIENTS 2
Nursing Priorities for Diabetic Patients
According to de Vries et al. (2016), the condition is prevalent among the elderly
populaces aged between 50 and 80 years old. The researchers warn that the prevalence of
diabetes is expected to undergo further increments due to the present lifestyle changes. Nadeau et
al. (2016) explain that diabetes exposes elderly patients to multiple socio-economic, medical and
human burdens. For instance, Magnan et al. (2017) explain that diabetes exposes patients to the
increased risks of acquiring physical disabilities, reduced quality of life, and increased risks of
readmission. Peter is a 52 year old male patient diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. The patient was
admitted in the medical ward and showed evidence of poorly controlled diabetes, sleep apnea
and obesity ventilation syndrome. Upon presentation to the GP, the client presented symptoms
such as high blood glucose, shakiness, breathing difficulties, multiple sessions of hunger and
diaphoresis. The current study seeks to undertake a critical analysis of priority care for Peter by
initiating lipid control and non pharmacological treatment.
Priority care for Peter will be aimed at initiating lipid control and non pharmacological
treatment. According to Grant et al. (2016), priorities of care targeting elderly diabetic patients
must aim at improving their qualities of life while promoting successful ageing. On the other
hand, Clemens et al. (2016) demystify that treatments aimed at reducing the blood pressure of
patients that depict prolonged conditions (more than 8 years after diagnosis) lead to a significant
decrease in their levels of micro and macro cardiovascular events.
Lipid control will be prioritized as a strategy of initiating weight management through
proper management of the levels of LDLc and cholesterol. The clinical reasoning cycle plays a
significant role in explaining the efficacy of ongoing healthcare interventions when dealing with
elderly diabetic patients such as Peter. The cycle adopts eight cyclical procedures that are

NURSING PRIORITIES FOR DIABETIC PATIENTS 3
identified as look, collect, process, decide, plan, act, evaluate and reflect. Grant et al.
(2017)explain that while each of the eight processes are presented as separate and distinct
entities, there is need for caregivers to uphold the fact that clinical reasoning applies dynamic
procedures and experienced professionals may be allowed to combine some phases. According
to Finer et al. (2018), the levels of LDLc and cholesterol tend to undergo a sharp increase as a
person attains the age of 50. However, the researchers explain that after the plateau phase is
attained, the patient experiences a gradual decrease in the levels of total cholesterol (TC), low-
density cholesterol (LDLc) and high density cholesterol (HDLc). Wittink et al. (2018) attribute
such variations to issues such as decreased physical activity, general health position of the person
under consideration and an increase in co-morbidities. Further, the scholars reveal that the
relationship between the total cholesterol of a person and cardiovascular mortality tends to
weaken as the age of the individual advances. de Vries et al. (2016) also reveal a similar
relationship between one’s levels of LDLc and the tendencies of acquiring stroke or myocardial
infarctions. Further, the relationship between total cholesterol and mortality is inverted in
instances where the patient under consideration is very old. Finer et al. (2017) attribute such a
position to the fact that elderly people are exposed to other chronic conditions such as
malnutrition, cancer and infections.
Considering the case of Peter, lipid control will be initiated as a technique of managing
his weight. Despite his present status, the patient describes himself as a “biggish guy” whose
normal weight sits at around 105kg. However, Peter explains that he has gained a significant
amount of weight particularly after he had lost his job. The patient is exposed to multiple
difficulties in his pursuits of finding employment based on his present status as an overweight
person. The patient’s medical history reveals that he is obese with a weight of 145kg. The