Diabetic medications

Published

We are having a quiz on all of the diabetic medications..do you have any tips on how to memorize these in a very short time???side effects, contraindications, everything. Along with everything you ever wanted to know about diabetes but were afraid to ask..based on a 4-5 hour lecture we are supposed to know all of this and be tested. I don't understand why nursing schools feel like drowning you with important medication information makes sense. We are thrown all of this information in Med/Surg in one day when we spent days and weeks on bed baths, linen disposal, and things that were not as important as making sure a patient recieves the correct insulin, dosage, etc., (I know it is important, but I'm talking about the ratio of time versus importance here). Is there some trick to remembering all of this because I read it over and over and then I go back and the words just blurr togettttttttthhhhhherrr

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I don't understand why nursing schools feel like drowning you with important medication information makes sense.

I agree, there is no reason a nurse should know important medical information.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I didn't say that clearly enough. I want to learn everything I can learn. I meant this is sooo important that it shouldn't be avalanched onto us. We should have the same information, but have time to absorb it before moving on so quickly to the next topic. There were 30 drugs assigned in one day and the next day was a whole topic on Cancer. All of these are essential to learn, I think the classes should be restructured so that the students have time to understand it thoroughly. Maybe even go to a year round schedule with a couple of weeks off in between sessions.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

here are links to sites that have information for consumers on diabetes so it will be in an easier to understand format:

you will find the medications on these sites broken down into classifications. you won't want to buy the book, but perhaps you will find a copy of it in the library: diabetes for dummies. i bought a copy of it when i was diagnosed with insulin resistance and found the information in it quite useful. my cat has diabetes and needs 3 units of nph twice a day. i recently thought about switching her to an insulin pen and during a quiet time talked with a pharmacist at a cvs pharmacy, had him show me how the pen from lilly looked, worked and cost.

you will see so many patients with diabetes all the time that you will be re-visting this information again and again, so this is only the beginning of learning about it. diabetes is here to stay and more and more people are getting it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thank you so much for the sites. I will study those this weekend also. That was really my point behind my rant...diabetes, cancer, hepatitis, etc. are all so very important and I want to take the time to learn the drugs, procedures, lab tests correctly and thoroughly, not just a rush through the material and hope I pass a test thing. I think that the schools need to realize that these disease have gone crazy in our world and studies have come along so far that there is a LOT more information about these subjects that nurses need to know about and we need more than a few hours here and there to learn them. Thanks for your advice!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

these things will come up again in school and when you have patients in clinicals. believe me, it won't be the last you hear of them. this is just your introduction to them. the fact that there are websites devoted to them is a hint of how much they impact healthcare delivery.

i have more weblinks for other diseases and to help in looking for information listed on this thread:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I really appreciate all the advice. I'm calmer now, but I can truly say that I cannot wait to get through this school. It's really nice that you gave me ways to look information up like this. Thank you so much!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

That's why they are there. Those of us who have been nurses for many years know what it is that you need to help you through this. Your textbooks won't have everything you need.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Just remember, insulin = type 1, oral hypoglycemic = type 2.

Type 1s need INSULIN. You have to be familiar with the regimen. Is it short-acting or long-acting? What are the times you should administer it? Regular Insulin is the ONLY insulin given IV, although rapid-acting insulin (insulin lispro) is being considered as well, but you should clarify what your instructor says. Lantus is the long acting one.

Type 2 doesn't need it. If its well controlled, it could just be managed by exercise and diet. But if not, OHAs are given. Sulfonylureas are the most potent of these drugs. Just know the categories and their effects on the body and you'll be fine.

http://www.diabetes.org/type-2-diabetes/oral-medications.jsp - about oral hypoglycemics

Hope this helps!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hello I was wondering if someone could help me out on an abbreviation?

Im looking for the medical term for "SS" in SS insulin

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Hello I was wondering if someone could help me out on an abbreviation?

Im looking for the medical term for "SS" in SS insulin

It is a compound. S stands for sulfur. Its insulin S-S-carbon, an insulin derivative.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thank You, Now i wish i understood insulin better. So is it a insulin based off of sulfer?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion