Type 2 Diabetes and Nursing Care for Elderly Patients

This article discusses the prevalence of type 2 diabetes and its complications in elderly patients. It also highlights the role of registered nurses in providing person-centered care to elderly patients. The article provides insights into the nursing tasks and processes that must be used for assisting the formulation and development of person-centered associations and activities, while providing care services. It also discusses the expectations of elderly patients from registered nurses.

Running head: NURSING
Discussion
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author note

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Type 2 diabetes- Type 2 diabetes is primarily characterised by comparative insulin
deficiency that occurs due to dysfunction of the pancreatic β-cells or presence of insulin
resistance in target organs. During 1980-2004, the world-wide increase in sedentary
lifestyles, obesity, and ageing population have multiplied the occurrence and pervasiveness of
type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes has been found to account for an estimated 90% of the
patients who have been diagnosed with diabetes and often results in the onset of
macrovascular and miscrovascular complications, which in turn creates profound physical
and psychological distress to the patients and their care givers (Chatterjee, Khunti & Davies,
2017). In addition, results from a cohort study conducted by Shah et al. (2015) also indicated
that peripheral arterial disease, ischemic stroke, and heart failure are some common clinical
manifestations of type 2 diabetes. In addition, hypoglycaemia has also been identified as the
leading cause of roughly 1/5th of hospital admissions of diabetes patients who are aged more
than 80 years. Diabetes in the elderly communities imposes a considerable public and
personal health burden owing to its high rates of incidence, and its capability to result in
incapacitating complications, the appearance of novel non-vascular complications, and
impacts of frailty (Sinclair, Dunning & Rodriguez-Mañas, 2015). Therefore, the major
objective is to maintain independence, quality of life and functional status of the older
patients.
Growing old- I am well-acquainted with the fact that within residential aged care
facilities, large quantity of routine nursing tasks and processes occur on a regular basis that
must be used for assisting the formulation and development of person-centred associations
and activities, while providing me care services. I also anticipate that while performing
nursing tasks, the registered nurse must involve me in conducting non-therapeutic daily
activities, in relation to sharing moment and space, which in turn will facilitate the
development of a therapeutic relationship between us. I expect the registered nurse to think

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critically, while engaging in a professional and therapeutic relationship. According to NMBA
(2016), the role also requires the nurse to comprehensively conduct holistic and culturally
apposite health assessments, while developing appropriate plans for nursing practice. I hold
the belief that the nurse will also be entitled with the duty of providing me with a safe and
comprehensive quality practice for accomplishing the health goals that have been agreed by
both of us, besides supervising me. I also expect that the nurse will be involved in continuous
monitoring and evaluation of my health progress towards the anticipated health objectives.

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References
AHPRA. (2017). NMBA changes to registration standards and standards for practice.
Retrieved from https://vimeo.com/202673252
Chatterjee, S., Khunti, K., & Davies, M. J. (2017). Type 2 diabetes. The Lancet, 389(10085),
2239-2251.
Diabetes UK. (2018). What is Type 2 diabetes? Retrieved from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=4SZGM_E5cLI
Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia. (2016). Registered nurse standards for practice.
Retrieved from https://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/codes-guidelines-
statements/professional-standards/registered-nurse-standards-for-practice.aspx
Shah, A. D., Langenberg, C., Rapsomaniki, E., Denaxas, S., Pujades-Rodriguez, M., Gale, C.
P., ... & Hemingway, H. (2015). Type 2 diabetes and incidence of cardiovascular
diseases: a cohort study in 1· 9 million people. The lancet Diabetes &
endocrinology, 3(2), 105-113.
Sinclair, A., Dunning, T., & Rodriguez-Mañas, L. (2015). Diabetes in older people: new
insights and remaining challenges. The lancet Diabetes & endocrinology, 3(4), 275-
285.