NURS 83PL Lecture Notes - Lecture 11: Diabetic Ketoacidosis, Diuresis, Polyphagia
Document Summary
Dm is a chronic, multisystem disease related to abnormal insulin production, impaired insulin utilization, or both. It currently affects 25. 8 million people in the united states or 8. 3% of the population. It is the 7th leading cause of death in the united states. Dm is the leading cause of adult blindness, end stage kidney disease, and non-traumatic lower limb amputations. It is also a major contributing factor to heart disease and stroke. About 67% of adults with diabetes have htn. Because of these staggering stats, nursing priority is to help the pt. achieve and maintain a lifestyle that prevents long-term complications by keeping bg and cholesterol as close to normal as possible. Current theories link causes of diabetes singly or in combination to genetic, autoimmune and environmental factors (obesity). Diabetes is primarily a disorder of glucose metabolism related to absent or insufficient insulin supply and/or poor utilization of the insulin that is available.
