Analyze the case study "Maria's Story" in your textbook by addressing the assigned questions below.
While analyzing the case, be sure to identify the major problems and issues.
- Draft a response or strategy for addressing the major problems and issues.
- Make recommendations to improve the patient's health.
- Discuss any negative consequences that may occur if the patient's health issue is not addressed.
Your response should be at least two pages in length. Include at least one reference to support your work in APA style. You are required to use at least your textbook as source material for your response. All sources used, including the textbook, must be referenced; paraphrased and quoted material must have accompanying citations.
1. Maria's Story
Maria, our 35-year-old diabetic, has been developing a series of integumentary system problems over the past several years. Diabetes can, in some ways, be considered a vascular disease. Research the effects of diabetes as it relates to the integumentary system. How and why does diabetes affect wound healing? Why is there a high incidence of toe and leg amputations in the diabetic population? What preventative care measures can be taken to ensure good health of the diabetic's integumentary system?
2. Maria's Stroy
Maria (our diabetic) may develop complications that may impair her wound-healing process. She is getting concerned as she gets older that this may become more of a problem and is aware of preventative measures. She is not exactly sure why the physicians are so worried about her cardiovascular status.
a. Explain how the cardiovascular system may be a contributing factor.
b. What preventative measures can Maria take?
c. Which specialist(s) would you consult to prevent these potential problems?
3. Maria's Story
Maria, a diabetic, has been going through a period of high stress and has been poorly monitoring her diabetes. She has noticed increasing visual problems and often sees specks floating in her visual field. Twice she had double vision episodes.
a. What should Maria's action plan include to get her back on track?
b. What could be the cause of the visual disturbances, and what should she do about them?
c. What structures of the eye are affected, and why?
d. Ultimately what eye disease(s) can Maria expect if she does not control her diabetes?
4. Maria's Story
Let's revisit Maria's case. She is a 35-year-old insulin-dependent diabetic who currently cakes good care of herself. She did not take good care of herself as a teenager. She is on an insulin pump to try to control her blood sugar, but has recently passed out in public several times.
a. What condition causes her to pass out? (hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia)
b. Why does this condition develop?
c. What is the appropriate treatment for the early stages of this condition?
d. Given that she has been a diabetic for so long, why doesn't Maria realize she is in trouble before she passes out?
5. Maria's story
During a recent trip to the doctor's office, Maria had a standard urinalysis. The results worry her doctor in her urine there was a tiny amount of protein. The doctor orders more extensive tests.
a. Why is Maria's doctor concerned? It's only a little protein.
b. What other tests should the doctor order?
c. When the tests come back, the doctor tells Maria she needs to go on an ACE inhibitor, even though her blood pressure is normal. What is the diagnosis?
6. Jeremy Dale is a 30-year-old recreational sports enthusiast and likes to play soccer and baseball on his days off from work. He mentions to you, his co-worker that he thinks he might have sprained his ankle over the weekend while playing soccer with some friends. He says it is swollen and very painful today and asks whether you think he should see a doctor or just wait for it to get better.
What might be some good recommendations for you to give Jeremy about his sports injury?
What could you tell him in general about minor sports injuries? How could he determine that it is a sprain or a strain? Should he apply ice and elevate or compress the injured ankle? Is it too late for that treatment to be helpful?
Your response should be at least one page in length. Include at least one reference to support your work in APA style. You are required to use at least your textbook as source material for your response. All sources used, including the textbook, must be referenced; paraphrased and quoted material must have accompanying citations.