I'm doing a teaching about Diabetes Mellitus on a patient, and I am just focusing on the effects on the lower extremities and how to prevent complications.

The only question/s I have is: how do I know that the patient who has been diagnosed with DM is ready to be taught information about ways to protect their feet. how do i know the patient is ready to learn? can you please give an example.

this is what i have: when the patient is the most attentive, receptive, and alert. no anxiety, ready to learn. i realize that applies to everyone with any disease processes, so i thought its too broad.

but i want to know is: when is the right time to teach information on foot care for diabetics, how do i know the diabetic patient is ready for what i am about to teach? and it says give an example.

Hi, I have been a diabetic since I was 7(20years). I would say this should be taught all the time from your first year and all throughout the years. I also think that if they are young show them pictures(not to be mean or anything but it is realty) of amputaions and gangrene. I think this will surely get their attention!! How old is the patient?

I'm doing a teaching about Diabetes Mellitus on a patient, and I am just focusing on the effects on the lower extremities and how to prevent complications.

The only question/s I have is: how do I know that the patient who has been diagnosed with DM is ready to be taught information about ways to protect their feet. how do i know the patient is ready to learn? can you please give an example.

this is what i have: when the patient is the most attentive, receptive, and alert. no anxiety, ready to learn. i realize that applies to everyone with any disease processes, so i thought its too broad.

but i want to know is: when is the right time to teach information on foot care for diabetics, how do i know the diabetic patient is ready for what i am about to teach? and it says give an example.

When they are interested in the disease. Interested in giving own shots, diet, ect.

I'm doing a teaching about Diabetes Mellitus on a patient, and I am just focusing on the effects on the lower extremities and how to prevent complications.

The only question/s I have is: how do I know that the patient who has been diagnosed with DM is ready to be taught information about ways to protect their feet. how do i know the patient is ready to learn? can you please give an example.

this is what i have: when the patient is the most attentive, receptive, and alert. no anxiety, ready to learn. i realize that applies to everyone with any disease processes, so i thought its too broad.

but i want to know is: when is the right time to teach information on foot care for diabetics, how do i know the diabetic patient is ready for what i am about to teach? and it says give an example.

I've been a Type 1 for about 8 years. I think one thing you can do is ask what they know about controlling blood sugar vs. complications. Ask if they know about peripheral nerve damage, eye damage, kidney damage, etc.

But not all at once. It's a lot to just be diagnosed and learn how/when to monitor blood sugars and meds, whether insulin or oral meds. The teaching is an ongoing process. Heck, I'm learning new stuff all the time about it, but now it is more "in-depth" from taking bio classes, etc.

The pt. should be set up with a diabetes nurse-educator.

For an example, I'd say that if the pt. doesn't know he needs to wear hard-soled shoes ALL the time, including slippers, or that he needs to check bath water temp before he gets in, he needs some teaching regarding lower extremities.

I hope that helps! I'm not doing clinicals yet, so I don't know exactly what they look for.

These links are quite great!

Diabetes

http://www.medicinenet.com/diabetes_foot_problems_pictures_slideshow/article.htm

http://www.healthination.com/content/view/video_popup/85/(partner_id)/1048

http://www.pdrhealth.com/images/diseases/BHG01EN27F01.SWF

http://www.linkstudio.info/portfolio/interact01b2.htm

http://www.molecularmovies.com/movies/etsuko_diabetes.mov

http://www.januvia.com/sitagliptin/januvia/consumer/index.jsp?WT.svl=2

http://www.medicinenet.com/type_2_diabetes_pictures_slideshow/article.htm

When the client accepts the diagnois, and talks of it in the first person they are ready to begin learning about their condition

If its a new diagnosis i would give the patient some time. It would be a good idea to inform the patient that you will be in later to educate him/her. When you come back later, ask the pt if its o.k. if you teach him/her. If they say yes, they are probably ready to learn. You can ask them to do return demonstation, or take a written quiz to see if they are retaining the information.