Health Fitness
Nursing Care Plan – Diabetes

Nursing Care Plan – Diabetes

Below is a copy of one of the Type 2 Diabetes Nursing Care Plans written by myself (Head RN). A detailed commentary by myself can be found under the nursing care plan. Please read the care plan to better understand the standards of care for type 2 diabetes.

See the link at the end of this article for more detailed information on diabetes for both patients and medical professionals.

Nursing Care Plan NANDA Nursing Diagnosis (problem statement)

Imbalanced nutrition r/t excessive nutrient intake as evidenced by type II diabetes:

Nursing Care Plan Mission Statements:

  1. The patient will recognize their behaviors/feelings that exacerbate imbalanced (excessive) nutrition within 8 hours. (This is a great example of a short-term goal statement.)
  2. The patient will design a realistic dietary plan that will help them decrease caloric intake, within 24 hours. (key word in this statement is REALISTIC, to increase compliance).
  3. The patient will incorporate at least 30 minutes of well-tolerated exercise into the daily program at the end of the 48 hours. (another short-term goal statement, a long-term lifestyle change).

Nursing interventions for unbalanced (excessive) nutrition:

The nurse should explain and have the patient verbalize the relationship between diabetes and diet, and the patient should explain back in their own words. (This nursing intervention will help clear up misconceptions and reinforce the medical value of a healthy diabetic diet.)

The patient will consult with a dietitian to find out the optimal caloric intake for her size, activity level, and weight loss goal, so she knows where to start planning her dietary needs. (initial education and practical knowledge).

The patient will keep a diary of the total intake each time they eat food and mark where improvement can be made. (responsibility, continuing education experience)

The patient will show (you choose how) a working knowledge of how to read a food label after the nurse demonstrates it (you choose the method according to the best way for the patient to learn)

Promote the participation of a family member or caregiver in the 30-minute exercise program mentioned above. (increases compliance through a support system, motivation).

The nurse should have the patient record an exercise log. (responsibility)

The patient should have a list of goals and rewards for those goals related to reducing total caloric intake. (will increase compliance).

Comments: The most important fact to remember when dealing with type 2 diabetes is that a well thought out diet can completely reverse the diabetic disease process. The diabetic diet can be strict, but some moderate and planned “cheating” is actually a GOOD idea. Human behavior dictates, and research has shown, that a strict diet is rarely followed. With type 2 diabetes, the diet is a diet for life and general adherence to the diet is the overall goal. Lack of a regulated diet can easily lead to type 1 diabetes and more serious medical problems such as neuropathy, vision loss, and premature death related to diabetic complications.

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