Effectiveness of Patient Education on Reducing Diabetic Foot
Introduction
With the provided scientific insights on health, the positive role of physical activity and lifestyle can affect the internal functions of the body. People are always warned about the various life threatening diseases. Apparently, there are an alarming growing numbers of patients diagnosed with different illness and complications. And the most recognizable diseases that are commonly plaguing the society are the heart diseases and diabetes.
Background and Problem Statement
Solving the health problems is the most critical strategy in the medical society. The problem of diabetes and the lack of knowledge about the disease make it even worse. According to the medical experts, diabetes is usually characterized with high blood sugar or Hyperglycemia in medical terms. It is also defined when the body’s blood glucose level is equal or more than 200 mg/dl (Leung, 2007). However, the deep explanation regarding the disease is difficult for the patient if he doesn’t understand the complexities involved in the current situation. Many proposed that patient education regarding the said disease is a good step for the early recovery of the patient. The question is, how effective the patient education will be to help reduce the diabetic foot problem among the patients.
Research Aims and Objectives
The main aim of the study is to deliver the idea about the effectiveness of patient education more especially in diabetic patients. To support this sole goal of the study there are three objectives that can serve as the driver of the study in focusing to the outcome. The first objective of the study is to provide the information regarding the education in diabetes. Second is to recognize the perceptions of diabetic patients, as well as their families, about the offered patient education. And third is to provide the additional thrust for the continuous campaign and promotion about the collaboration of patients’ concern and education.
Literature Review
In medical terms, the diabetes is characterized with the fluctuation of blood glucose happened before and after meal, therefore it is advised that a diabetic patient should undergo in a 8-hour fasting. This disease is classified in four categories, the type 1 diabetes (insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus); type 2 diabetes (non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus); gestational diabetes, which occurs in pregnant women but often disappears after pregnancy; and other diabetic diseases caused by genetic abnormalities, medication use, and associated illness (Leung, 2007). The knowledge in diabetes, its types, symptoms, complications, and ways of achieving good controls with the major emphasis on diet and exercise are part of the education. With the use of the visual aids, printed pamphlets and oral communication, the education for the diabetic patients will be effective (Mani, et al., 1989). Through the application of the education, the risk can be reduced if the person with diabetic symptoms will reduce his weight and maintained an ideal healthy lifestyle. Significantly, the lifestyle is related with the activities and body functions affects the glucose and body fats. Experts also added that a regular physical activity like exercise and healthy diet can help attain the ideal body weight of a diabetic person (Thompson, 2004).The health providers offer weight loss and physical activity programs to help the patients change their lifestyle and guiding their hourly meal. The importance of exercise and healthy lifestyle is encouraging the youth and the parents to help prevent this kind of disease. Many advocates already implemented the education of the relationship of the lifestyle and diabetes and the idea of self managing techniques. These techniques are applied in individuals who have the high diabetes risk. Together with the change in lifestyle, the blood monitoring and management and proper prescription can slow the progression of the disease. About the issue of diabetic foot, the self monitoring and management can be done through simple steps by daily checking the feet if it is showing the sores and the blood pressure. These simple means can save the future of every individual who faces the disease (Cammy, 2005).
Methodology
The proposed method in the study is the use survey and interview. The participants are the diabetic patients and their families in one hospital setting. In the first phase, the participants were asked to answer the survey based on their previous experience. And on the interview, the participants are the close people related to the patients are interviewed regarding their level of understanding about diabetes. The use of the survey and interview allows the study to analyze the present situation of the diabetic patients and their families.
References:
Cammy, A., (2005) “Complications of Diabetes Module”, Virtual Laboratories Stanford University, Accessed 08 June 2010, from http://virtuallabs.stanford.edu/diabetes/DiabetesModuleTextAll.pdf
Leung, R., (2007) “Preventing and Treating Type 2 Diabetes through a Physically Active Lifestyle: With Type 2 Diabetes Exploding in the School Population, Physical Educators Can Play an Important Role in Countering the Disease”. JOPERD – The Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance, Vol. 78, No. 4
Mani, U.V., Srivastava, R., Mani, I., Parekh, A., Shah, V., Mehta, N.C., Patel, H.R., Dosi, M., & Iyer, U.N. (1989) “Effect of Diabetic Patient Education in the Management of Diabetes Mellitus”, Accessed 08 June 2010, from http://www.rssdi.org/1989_october/original_article2.pdf
Thompson, T., (Sec.) (2004) “Diabetes: A National Plan for Action”, Department of Health and Human Services, Accessed 08 June 2010, from http://aspe.hhs.gov/health/NDAP/NDAP04.pdf
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