Nutritional management of hypoglycemia

Hypoglycemia education needs

Because more than half of those participating in a community-based diabetes session expressed experience with hypoglycemia, we sought additional information by conducting focus groups before developing programs or materials for educational support. The objectives of these focus groups were to determine how and to what extent hypoglycemia affected people, and what, if any, methods were used to prevent or treat the condition, to better target education in the future. Four focus groups were held using a tiered discussion script with a moderator and comoderator. Discussions were audiotaped, transcribed, and analyzed by content by independent researchers. Five themes emerged from the discussions: friends, family, and neighbors need hypoglycemia education as well as individuals themselves; leaving home is a concern if you experience hypoglycemia; overeating occurs when treating hypoglycemia; routine is important; and hypoglycemia is a limitation. We found that hypoglycemia had a significant impact on the participants' quality of life.

The Nurse Practitioner and Home Care of the Diabetic Patient: The Role of Clinician and Educator

Coordination of care for the elderly, homebound patient with diabetes and numerous comorbid medical problems has become increasingly challenging for the home care nurse. Complex treatment plans, exploding technology, and a myriad of new pharmacological agents can be overwhelming for even the most experienced nurse. Nurse practitioners, who are advanced practice nurses, have the ability to do in-depth physical exams, order diagnostics tests, make a diagnosis based on their assessment, and order medications and other medical interventions as needed. Overall, the nurse practitioner can provide timely, coordinated, and cost-effective care to the patient and can also be an educational resource for the home care nurse and other care providers in planning case management.