Food intake charting diabetics

[0128AAE]

I am a new nurse. So I am asking for a little advice. I work in LTC and recently a resident had a decrease in oral diabetic agent due to low chemstrip resdings. This resident only gets checked once daily three times a week. Should we be monitoring food intake and cheecking blood sugars more often due to change?

[sharlynn]

As long as the doc knows what your policy is, it would be up to him to order a change, IMHO.

[PsychNurseWannaBe, BSN, RN]

Have you checked if you have standing orders? We have scheduled checks; however, we can check more often if the resident becomes symptomatic. The reason I ask the question is because at my work, the standing orders are not always in the MAR or treatment record. I have to check the individual chart.

If I were you and thought the the resident might be at a risk of hypo/hyperglycemia, I would call/fax the Doc and state that the resident might need more frequent checks and see what he/she says.

I really wouldn't monitor what the resident is eating...but I would monitor the resident for S/S.

[0128AAE]

I am thinking about a decline in food intake may being the cause of low blood sugar readings. Maybe resident doesn't need oral agent any longer due to healthier choices/decrease intake from norm. So that way when you update MD you have the whole picture. That type of thing.

[PsychNurseWannaBe, BSN, RN]

I am thinking about a decline in food intake may being the cause of low blood sugar readings. Maybe resident doesn't need oral agent any longer due to healthier choices/decrease intake from norm. So that way when you update MD you have the whole picture. That type of thing.

I understand what you are saying. I would still monitor for S/S...but I wouldn't monitor his food intake. Well...let me qualify that. I wouldn't specfically monitor his food intake. However, if he keeps bottoming out on you and you noticed that he has slowly been eating less than by all means contact the MD. I have residents who get their BS taken only once weekly and some go as much as 3 times a day.

[0128AAE]

What does IMHO stand for?

[nightmare, RN]

In My Humble/Honest Opinion