[susannyc]

Lithium use is a factor in Diabetes Insipidus, but doesn't affect the pituitary hormones. Instead, the Lithium acts directly on the kidney to prevent the concentration of urine. Therefore, the urine has the low specific gravity associated with DI, but the pituitary hormone mechanism is intact. The treatment is to D/C the Lithium, and note on the pt's chart that he is not to receive any mood stabilisers containing lithium. The patient also needs to be watched for dehydration. As far as I know, the damage to the kidney is permanent, but I've never seen anyone go into renal failure solely from this if it is caught quickly. Therefore, constant monitoring of patients receiving lithium based mood stabilisers is a necessity.

[Elly]

Can I ask what Byetta is ???

[RedSox33RN]

I just had to add that while at work the other day (I work as an LNA on a Med/Surg unit), I was commenting about some new flavored glucose tablets I bought (sour apple), and that my 9yo son liked to have one once in a while.

An RN then proceeded to tell me, "What, you want to make the kid diabetic?!" I must say, I was astounded at her lack of knowledge, given that she works with diabetics every day. Why would she think that anyone eating a glucose tablet would CAUSE diabetes? I asked her why she thought that, and her only response is that "glucose is bad for non-diabetics".

HUH??? Mind-boggling!

As a student nurse, I have a lot of other students AND nurses interested in my pump. I like being able to teach them things also, especially since our current unit (with exam on Monday) is on diabetes and respiratory. I did have to bone up on my diabetic medications, since I'm not as familiar with Type 2 meds.

[Works2xs]

Pet peeve #<fill in blank>: Doctors who constantly remind you that "life style changes" are required. Thanks for the tip, Capt. Obvious. How 'bout taking a microsecond to listen to what my current lifestyle is so that I can have a better chance at identifying changes and an associated regimen that's more likely to work for me.

Pet peeve #<f.i.b. +1>: Living with the constant stress regarding BG control and the insidious nature of the damage a lack of control causes. All made worse by the number of calandar months that flip by while waiting for the doctor to realize his standard, one-over-the-world solution, just isn't working.
Now, pump up the frustration level knowing that if he/she would just do a bit of the above "therapeutic communication" you'd have your control issues in hand - "as evidenced by" the fact that when he/she finally did land on the regimen you'd been asking for more than a year, you'd have had that 6.1 hba1c you just got that much earlier.

Pet peeve #<f.i.b. +2>: Doc - Stop treating me as though I'm an idiot. If you are just going to dismiss what I'm telling you out of hand, don't ask me the ******* questions in the first place. Better yet, just mail your protocols and scripts to me so I can save us both the time and frustration.

Yeah, I realize compliance issues abound and that patients often shade the truth because they don't want to "get in trouble." I just hate having to be treated like a bonehead because the doc expects it and does precious little to find out otherwise. And yeah, the doc's probably better off "playing the odds" regarding patient compliance issues so that there's less chance of screwing up someone. But none of those facts make my experiences any less frustrating.

[grannynurse FNP student]

Has anyone heard of the DAWN Program? If you have, what have you heard. If not, do you want to know about it?

Grannynurse

[grannynurse FNP student]

Originally Posted by Works2xs

Pet peeve #<fill in blank>: Doctors who constantly remind you that "life style changes" are required. Thanks for the tip, Capt. Obvious. How 'bout taking a microsecond to listen to what my current lifestyle is so that I can have a better chance at identifying changes and an associated regimen that's more likely to work for me.

Pet peeve #<f.i.b. +1>: Living with the constant stress regarding BG control and the insidious nature of the damage a lack of control causes. All made worse by the number of calandar months that flip by while waiting for the doctor to realize his standard, one-over-the-world solution, just isn't working.
Now, pump up the frustration level knowing that if he/she would just do a bit of the above "therapeutic communication" you'd have your control issues in hand - "as evidenced by" the fact that when he/she finally did land on the regimen you'd been asking for more than a year, you'd have had that 6.1 hba1c you just got that much earlier.

Pet peeve #<f.i.b. +2>: Doc - Stop treating me as though I'm an idiot. If you are just going to dismiss what I'm telling you out of hand, don't ask me the ******* questions in the first place. Better yet, just mail your protocols and scripts to me so I can save us both the time and frustration.

Yeah, I realize compliance issues abound and that patients often shade the truth because they don't want to "get in trouble." I just hate having to be treated like a bonehead because the doc expects it and does precious little to find out otherwise. And yeah, the doc's probably better off "playing the odds" regarding patient compliance issues so that there's less chance of screwing up someone. But none of those facts make my experiences any less frustrating.

You raise some interesting points. And would it surprise you that the issues you raise concerning doctors, also are issues that many nurses also posses. I spent part of last evening at USF's library and found several articles that address the attitudes and the negative impact they have on diabetics.

Grannynurse

[hdnacres]

I am a new diabetic so just starting to do a little more in-depth research on the disease (I know the basics, as a nurse).
In response to "Psychaprn", what is Byetta and how does it help your diabetes? I seem to be having a lot of problem controlling my hunger and weight gain. I am classified "early diabetes" and want to get a quick grip on the situation.
Thanks for any help, suggestions, etc.
Geri

[CatLVNRN]

Originally Posted by Psychaprn

click on her profile by clicking on her name.

I think that was a rhetorical question..

[Retired R.N.]

Originally Posted by grannynurse FNP student

Has anyone heard of the DAWN Program? If you have, what have you heard. If not, do you want to know about it?

Grannynurse

No, I don't know about it. Please tell me as much as you can. I want as much
good information about diabetes as I can possibly get to make it easier for me to cope with it.

[grannynurse FNP student]

Originally Posted by Retired R.N.

No, I don't know about it. Please tell me as much as you can. I want as much
good information about diabetes as I can possibly get to make it easier for me to cope with it.

It stands for Diabetes Attitudes, Wishes and Needs Program. It is an international partnership effort to improve outcomes of diabetic care by inreasing the focus on the person behind the disease, especially the psychosocial and behavioral barriers to effective management. A number of studies have identified the possible causes of poor outcomes as being the psychological, social and behavioral.

Grannynurse