Page 278 - fourth year book

DIABETES MELLITUS

 Prevention strategies:

 Education of patients and their families about the prevention,
recognition and treatment of hypoglycemia is essential .
 To facilitate prompt assessment, patients receiving insulin

treatment should wear or carry appropriate identification.

 Blood glucose targets must be individualized for each patient.
 Balance of food intake, activity and insulin dosage in both quantity
and timing, taking into consideration the eating and other lifestyle

habits of the individual.

 Meals should be consumed on time, and appropriate changes
made in insulin dosage if meals have been omitted.
 Between-meal and bedtime snacks may be necessary to reduce the

risk of hypoglycemia.

 Energy intake should meet the needs of usual daily activity.
 Patients should carry rapidly absorbable carbohydrate with them
at all times.

 It may be desirable to measure blood glucose before driving a

motor vehicle or operating potentially dangerous equipment, both
at leisure and in the workplace.

 Treatment (Rule of 15/15 ):

 Consume 15 grams of glucose or simple carbohydrates.

 Recheck your blood glucose after 15 minutes.

 If hypoglycemia continues, repeat.

 Once blood glucose returns to normal, eat a small snack if your

next planned meal or snack is more than an hour or two away.

Note :

If hypoglycemia not treated, patient must be treated by Glucagon at

hospital.

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