Authors’ name:
Diabetes Type 2
Research study indicates that there is a close association between poverty and type II diabetes. In areas where people are poor, there is a high incidence of this condition and the complications that relate to it. This trend is so true because such people living in such conditions can access neither proper exercise facilities nor good nutrition. There is also evidence of a rise in the mortality rated due to diabetes among the low-income populations. Over time people and more so health professionals have gained an improved understanding to type 2 diabetes patients’ experiences. However, this has not been reflected in the attention that is paid to social determinants of health and their effects on management of diabetes. Understanding the experiences that the patients go through forms the basis of coming up with the best practices as a nurse. The various themes that describe the experiences of type 2 diabetes patients are illustrated. These are; the resilient struggle for survival in hardship, balancing of competing priorities, use of knowledge and bodily knowing in diabetes management and making the best of it.
Main factors for the nurse to consider when caring for Diabetes 2 patients
Studies indicate that everyday life of a patient before and after diabetes type 2, life changes for the worse, especially in low economic situations. Further study by Pilkington (2010), demonstrates resilience among these patients even in such situations. They are always fighting to overcome the limitations and acquire what they need for life. A nurse would encourage such people by speaking positively to them and providing medicine in good time. Poor people living with type 2 diabetes have the challenge of balancing between competing priorities.Sometimes one is faced with the difficulty of whether to by diabetes medication or quality food. A health professional should ensure that a balance is created as far as the disease is concerned.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a disease that is typified by uninterrupted difficulty in breathing. It is one of the widespread, persistent diseases around the world. Research indicates that most of the individuals with this condition can prevent about 75% of the hospital admissions by implementing suitable self-management. Regular monitoring improves the detection of acute exacerbations and hence allows and motivates timely initiation of treatment.
Factors for the nurse to consider when caring for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
It is crucial for health professionals to identify factors that motivate monitoring of symptoms. Some of these factors can be internal like confidence and attitudes while others can be external like having a partner.The performance of the disease-specific skills that are essential for the management of the disease is called self-efficacy. It is maintenance of developed behaviors over time to allow for proper reaction when need be (Social Cognitive Theory). As a health professional should work to enable a COPD patient to make decisions and act on those decisions that affect his/her health. This approach is made possible by giving the patient information on management of the disease to ensure that he/she possesses the confidence that he/she has the skills to adopt a certain behavior when there is a need. Personal resources that are more persuasive which include an individual’s attitude influence the motivation to manage COPD. The health professional like the nurse should always ensure that they create that sense of coherence (SOC) in the patient to give him/her relevance and hence change their attitude. The relationship between SOC and health is supported by literature, and it has been found that SOC is predictive of self-management of chronic diseases by individuals.
Perhaps the most important practice as a health professional is implementing that which has been initiated by the patient. It is widely agreed-upon that solutions that come from the community are more effective than those enforced upon them. Therefore, it is important that as a health professional, one provides the necessary information and environment for the patient to make an informed decision. He/she should the support what the patient has decided.
References
Pilkington, F. D. (2010). The Experience of Living with Diabetes for Low-income Canadians. Ontario.
Warwick, M. G. (2009). Self-management and symptom monitoring among older adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease . Sydney.
