Developing An Education Package To Reduce Incidence Of Hypoglycemia In Newly Diagnosed Diabetes Patients
Evidence on Reflection and Analysis
Hypoglycemia is a lifestyle condition that is closely associated with diabetes. According to Hanefeld, Frier and Pistrosch (2016), the condition exposes patients to dangerous vulnerabilities that result from decrements in the levels of blood sugar. On the other hand, Chow et al. (2018) explain that the global medical landscape has seen a six fold increase in the number of people dying of severe hypoglycemia due to the issues of ignorance and negligence. Allen et al. (2015) demystify that repeated episodes of this condition with lack of proper education from medical experts could impose great impairments in the affected patient’s counter regulatory system. Similarly, Caballero-Corchuelo (2016) highlights increase of the effects of acute cerebrovascular disease, probable loss of vision, the death of the retinal cell, myocardial infarctions, and loss of vision as the probable complications related to hypoglycemia. The aforementioned complications could distort the affected person’s life based on the detrimental effects they impose on their abilities to drive, undertake recreational activities, and proceed with their normal professional endeavors. Fadini et al. (2017) explain that early detection of the risk factors of hypoglycemia through institutionalization of effective educational programs fosters one’s ability to initiate self-monitoring procedures, select the most effective treatments and prevent the long term complications associated with the condition. Consequently, I intend to develop an education package for newly diagnosed diabetes patients to reduce incidence of hypoglycemia by educating the signs and symptoms and management of hypoglycemia.
The topic of hypoglycemia is of great significance based on the detrimental effects imposed by this condition on the physiological state and quality of life of the affected individual. According to Zhao et al. (2015), patients suffering from severe hypoglycemia reveal symptoms such as palpitations, an increase in the levels of sweating, seizures as well as cognitive dysfunctions. On the other hand, Khunti et al. (2015) reveal that he condition could expose the patient to coma, or even death based on its state of severity and duration of attack. According to Gomez et al. (2015), glucose is one of the most important metabolic fuels of the human brain. The fact that hypoglycemia interrupts the supply of this essential bio fuel could lead to functional failures of the brain. Similarly, Fadini e al. (2017) explain that the condition gas profound negative effects on the functioning of the cardiovascular system as it stimulates the activation of sympatho-adrenaline as well as the secretion of epinephrine; a substance that is associated with the enhancement of the peripheral systolic blood pressure.
Patients with hypoglycemia tend to depict massive diminishment in their wellbeing and quality of life. According to Fadini e al. (2017) recurring episodes of this condition are associated with an increase in the extents to which the affected person feels powerless and levels of anxiety. Similarly, the researchers explain that the family members of these people could suffer from depression. On the other hand, hypoglycemia has been identified as one of the most significant barriers to effective glycemic management of the patients suffering from diabetes (Zhao et al., 2015). According to Chow et al. (2018), the condition acts as a significant barrier to effective adherence to the medications prescribed as well as the ability of the patient to attain and maintain normal blood sugar levels with intensive therapy. However, Fadini et al. (2017) reveal that patient education on issues such as early identification of this condition and proper management techniques could impose great positive outcomes.
Description of the Proposed Project
The proposed educational project will implement a pamphlet for newly diagnosed diabetes patients to reduce incidence of hypoglycemia by educating the signs, symptoms and management of hypoglycemia. As opposed to other educational materials used in healthcare such as factsheets which limit the consumer’s ability to access a wider range of information in a particular field of study, pamphlets avail the targeted segments with a wealth of data to foster heir comprehension of the issue under investigation. According to Allen et al. (2015), the effectiveness of a study material is vetted by its ability to avail the desired instructional information at a level that is appropriate to the levels of comprehension of the targeted audience. As a consequence, the proposed pamphlet will adopt evidence based data and explanations that are user appropriate through adoption of simplified instructions to guide the targeted audience on how to identify the symptoms of hypoglycemia, possible causes of this condition, clinically proven measures of preventing the disease, as well as the treatment options availed by the immediate healthcare system.
To implement the project, I will adopt five medical institutions dealing with newly diagnosed diabetic patients as the centers of distributing the pamphlets. The recruited participants for the initiative will be educated on how to use the pamphlet during their clinic visits in the medical centers identified. The pamphlets will be distributed followed the education program. The participants will then be allowed to undertake a survey after 6 months to evaluate the efficacy of the educational material in fostering the control of hypoglycemia.
The educational plan targeting newly diagnosed diabetes patients to reduce incidence of hypoglycemia by educating the signs and symptoms and management of hypoglycemia will deal with patients and caregivers. Therefore, the issues of veracity will be prioritized. For instance, the researcher will ensure that the educational resource adopted is made understandable through inclusion of clear information.
Conclusion
The proposed project intends to develop an education package for newly diagnosed diabetes patients to reduce incidence of hypoglycemia by educating the signs and symptoms and management of hypoglycemia. The topic of hypoglycemia is of great significance based on the detrimental effects imposed by this condition on the physiological state and quality of life of the affected individual. As opposed to other educational materials used in healthcare such as factsheets which limit the consumer’s ability to access a wider range of information in a particular field of study, pamphlets avail the targeted segments with a wealth of data to foster heir comprehension of the issue under investigation.
References
Allen, K. V., Pickering, M. J., Zammitt, N. N., Hartsuiker, R. J., Traxler, M. J., Frier, B. M., & Deary, I. J. (2015). Effects of acute hypoglycemia on working memory and language processing in adults with and without type 1 diabetes. Diabetes Care, dc141657.
Caballero-Corchuelo, J. (2016). Neurological effects of hypoglycemia in diabetic patients. Revista de neurologia, 63(6), 262-268.
Chow, E., Iqbal, A., Walkinshaw, E., Phoenix, F., Macdonald, I. A., Storey, R. F., … & Heller, S. R. (2018). Prolonged Prothrombotic Effects of Antecedent Hypoglycemia in Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes. Diabetes care.
Fadini, G. P., Boscari, F., Cappellari, R., Galasso, S., Rigato, M., Bonora, B. M., … & Avogaro, A. (2017). Effects of Hypoglycemia on Circulating Stem and Progenitor Cells in Diabetic Patients. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 103(3), 1048-1055.
Gomez, A. M., Gomez, C., Aschner, P., Veloza, A., Muñoz, O., Rubio, C., & Vallejo, S. (2015). Effects of performing morning versus afternoon exercise on glycemic control and hypoglycemia frequency in type 1 diabetes patients on sensor-augmented insulin pump therapy. Journal of diabetes science and technology, 9(3), 619-624.
Hanefeld, M., Frier, B. M., & Pistrosch, F. (2016). Hypoglycemia and cardiovascular risk: is there a major link?. Diabetes Care, 39(Supplement 2), S205-S209.
Khunti, K., Davies, M., Majeed, A., Thorsted, B. L., Wolden, M. L., & Paul, S. K. (2015). Hypoglycemia and risk of cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality in insulin-treated people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes: a cohort study. Diabetes care, 38(2), 316-322.
Zhao, F., Deng, J., Yu, X., Li, D., Shi, H., & Zhao, Y. (2015). Protective effects of vascular endothelial growth factor in cultured brain endothelial cells against hypoglycemia. Metabolic brain disease, 30(4), 999-1007.