Nursing Assignment: Medical Nutrition Therapy vs Brisk Walking

This nursing assignment explores the efficacy of different diabetes treatments for elderly patients. The essay focuses on comparing the effectiveness of medical nutrition therapy (MNT) and brisk walking in managing blood glucose levels in older adults with diabetes. The assignment begins by defining diabetes and highlighting its prevalence among the elderly, referencing statistical data. It then delves into the methodology of MNT, emphasizing its evidence-based approach and the role of dietitians in creating personalized plans. The essay also discusses the benefits of brisk walking in reducing blood glucose levels. The core argument of the essay is that MNT, which includes dietary modifications and carbohydrate counting, is more effective than brisk walking, particularly for elderly patients who may have mobility issues. The essay concludes by reiterating the superiority of MNT in controlling blood glucose levels and promoting a healthier lifestyle. The essay also references several research papers and studies to support its claims.

Running Head: NURSING ASSIGNMENT
Nursing assignment
Name of the student:
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PICO- Treatments of diabetes in old age people by medical nutrition therapy is more
effective than brisk walking in order to reduce the blood glucose level
P- Old age people suffering from diabetes
I – medical nutrition therapy
C- Brisk walking
O- To lower the blood glucose
To lead a healthy daily life
Introduction-
Diabetic is a disorder which is associated with the increase in blood glucose level.
The risk of diabetes is correlated with the age of the patient. Blood glucose level increases
with the increase in the associated risk factor (Sinclair, Dunning & Rodriguez-Mañas, 2015).
According to AIHW.gov (2019), around one in every six people of age 65 years and above
have diabetes. The rate is tend to increase with the age of the patient. Medical therapy diet
and brisk walking both are used in the treatment of diabetes in elderly patient. The essay will
focus on the effectiveness of medical therapy over brisk walking in diabetic treatment.
Discussion-
Medical nutrition therapy is an evidence-based methodology to treat chronic disease
such as diabetes. This diabetes plan is formulated by the help of registered dietician and
approved by physician. The diet includes complex carbohydrate, proteins, vitamins and
minerals in appropriate amount (Evert et al., 2014). The blood glucose level is controlled
with the help of medical nutrition therapy as well as with the help of brisk walking. It is
observed that the blood glucose level is decreased more in people relying in medical nutrition
therapy as compared with the population relying on brisk walking for diabetic treatment. The

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diet suggests the appropriate amount of nutrition to be consumed in the case of diabetes,
especially in case of older adults. Along with suggesting appropriate diet, carbohydrate intake
should also be minimised with the help of carbohydrate counting, which is a planning tool to
treat the people suffering from diabetes in the medical nutrition therapy. Carbohydrate
counting helps in delaying or prevent the diabetes complications (Schmidt, Schelde &
Nørgaard, 2014). Brisk walking for about 30 minutes helps in reducing the blood glucose
level and the body weight of the patient suffering from type 2 diabetes (García-Esquinas et
al., 2015). Medical nutrition therapy helps in lowering the blood glucose level, minimising
the risk effects of other comorbidities such as cardiovascular disease, neuropathy and
hypertension more rapidly as compared to brisk walking. Walking disability is common in
case of elderly patient. Hence, in case of old age diabetic patient, who have walking disability
cannot participate in brisk walking (García-Esquinas et al., 2015). In case of those patient,
medical nutrition therapy is used to reduce the adverse effect of diabetes.
Conclusion-
From the above discussion it is concluded that, medical nutrition therapy which is
formulated by registered dietician and approved by physician helps in lowering the blood
glucose level by suggesting the appropriate diet and it also helps in leading a healthy life.
Brisk walking also helps on reducing the glycemic level in elderly diabetic patient, but
medical nutrition therapy is more effective in reducing the blood glucose level.

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References
AIHW. (2019). Older Australia at a glance, Diabetes - Australian Institute of Health and
Welfare. Retrieved from https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/older-people/older-
australia-at-a-glance/contents/health-and-functioning/diabetes
Evert, A. B., Boucher, J. L., Cypress, M., Dunbar, S. A., Franz, M. J., Mayer-Davis, E. J., ...
& Yancy, W. S. (2014). Nutrition therapy recommendations for the management of
adults with diabetes. Diabetes care, 37(Supplement 1), S120-S143.
García-Esquinas, E., Graciani, A., Guallar-Castillón, P., López-García, E., Rodríguez-Mañas,
L., & Rodríguez-Artalejo, F. (2015). Diabetes and risk of frailty and its potential
mechanisms: a prospective cohort study of older adults. Journal of the American
Medical Directors Association, 16(9), 748-754.
Schmidt, S., Schelde, B., & Nørgaard, K. (2014). Effects of advanced carbohydrate counting
in patients with type 1 diabetes: a systematic review. Diabetic Medicine, 31(8), 886-
896.
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.