Diabetic Neuropathy: Risk Factors (Nursing)

00:01 Remember, we've got some things that will increase the risk for diabetic neuropathy.

00:05 If the patient is overweight, if the patient has high blood pressure, which often goes along with diabetes, if the patient has high cholesterol, they've got Advanced kidney disease or if they drink too much alcohol or smoke.

00:18 Okay well I could just go on to the next slide but this is one that we really need to talk about.

00:24 Remember the discussion of thinking like a nurse, developing a therapeutic relationship, well look what we're talking about here, over weight, cholesterol, drinking alcohol, or smoking, those real personal.

00:37 People don't necessarily take advanced kidney disease or high blood pressure something they did but the other three involve social habits.

00:46 So again, start from a place of understanding help them take the next step toward health.

00:53 Don't be judgemental.

00:55 Also encourage the value of medications and consistent follow up with the whole healthcare team.

01:02 Help them understand the importance of blood glucose control.

01:05 You want to focus on the quality of life versus telling them, you must keep your blood sugar between these two numbers.

01:12 Let's focus on what they can do versus what they can't or currently aren't doing.

01:17 So strict blood glucose control results in minimizing the risk of complications of diabetes.

01:23 We got it, but don't set the bar so high that the patient just gives up.

01:29 Small steps towards toward health are always progress.