Case # 2   Eric is a 52-year-old High school principal, who presented with a 2-week history of polyuria, polydipsia, polyphagia, weight loss, fatigue, and blurred vision. A random glucose test performed 1 day before presentation was 352 mg/dl. The patient denied any symptoms of numbness, tingling in hands or feet, dysuria, chest pain, cough or fevers. He had no prior history of diabetes and no family history of diabetes.    Admission of non-fasting serum glucose 248 mg/dl (N=<180 mg/dl), HbA1c 9.6% (N=4-6.1%). Electrolytes, BUN and creatinine were normal. Physical examination revealed weight of 180 pounds, height 5'5.5" (IBW 140-145). The rest of the examination was unremarkable,i.e., no signs of retinopathy or neuropathy.   The patient was taught self-monitoring of blood glucose and began on 5 mg glyburide once a day. He was instructed in diet (1800 cal ADA). Blood glucose levels ranged from 80 to120 mg/dl within 2 weeks of starting glyburide, his symptoms disappeared, and weight remained constant. During the next two months, blood glucose levels decreased to 80 mg/dl, and glyburide was stopped. Patient did not return until one year later; fasting serum glucose was 190 mg/dl, and HbA1c 8%. He again had polyuria and nocturia. Weight was unchanged from the time of presentation. The physician put him on 5 mg/day of glyburide. His blood sugar one month later remained at 180 mg/day. At this point, his physician decided to put him on insulin alone, 20 units/day at bedtime. Two weeks later, his fasting plasma glucose was 120 mg/dl.   Guide Questions   What are the mechanism of blurred vision which was part of his initial symptoms?     Are there correlations between his abnormal blood chemistry and his other symptoms?   Calculate his approximate daily caloric needs. The patient is a principal, and his daily exercise is limited to walking two blocks walking to and from the parking lot and his office/ Why did an 1,800 calorie a day diet fail to lower his body weight? Was insulin treatment at this time the only possible option?

Case # 2

Eric is a 52-year-old High school principal, who presented with a 2-week history of polyuria, polydipsia, polyphagia, weight loss, fatigue, and blurred vision. A random glucose test performed 1 day before presentation was 352 mg/dl. The patient denied any symptoms of numbness, tingling in hands or feet, dysuria, chest pain, cough or fevers. He had no prior history of diabetes and no family history of diabetes. 

Admission of non-fasting serum glucose 248 mg/dl (N=<180 mg/dl), HbA1c 9.6% (N=4-6.1%). Electrolytes, BUN and creatinine were normal. Physical examination revealed weight of 180 pounds, height 5'5.5" (IBW 140-145). The rest of the examination was unremarkable,i.e., no signs of retinopathy or neuropathy.

The patient was taught self-monitoring of blood glucose and began on 5 mg glyburide once a day. He was instructed in diet (1800 cal ADA). Blood glucose levels ranged from 80 to120 mg/dl within 2 weeks of starting glyburide, his symptoms disappeared, and weight remained constant.

During the next two months, blood glucose levels decreased to 80 mg/dl, and glyburide was stopped. Patient did not return until one year later; fasting serum glucose was 190 mg/dl, and HbA1c 8%. He again had polyuria and nocturia. Weight was unchanged from the time of presentation. The physician put him on 5 mg/day of glyburide. His blood sugar one month later remained at 180 mg/day. At this point, his physician decided to put him on insulin alone, 20 units/day at bedtime. Two weeks later, his fasting plasma glucose was 120 mg/dl.

Guide Questions

• What are the mechanism of blurred vision which was part of his initial symptoms?

• Are there correlations between his abnormal blood chemistry and his other symptoms?

• Calculate his approximate daily caloric needs. The patient is a principal, and his daily exercise is limited to walking two blocks walking to and from the parking lot and his office/

• Why did an 1,800 calorie a day diet fail to lower his body weight?

• Was insulin treatment at this time the only possible option?

Nursing care/management

Pathophysiology