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- Title
CANCER AND DIABETES, AN INCREASING COMMON COMBINATION: IMPROVING KNOWLEDGE AMONG ONCOLOGY NURSES.
- Authors
Olsen, Mikaela
- Abstract
In the United States today 20.8 million people have diabetes. Approximately one-third of those cases are undiagnosed today (ADA, 2005). Diabetes is an incurable chronic disease characterized by high levels of blood glucose resulting from inadequate insulin production or action. Like cancer, most cases of diabetes do not discriminate between ages, genders or ethnicities. Ironically while 1 in 3 Americans are estimated to develop cancer in their lifetime this same statistic exists for diabetes. The likelihood that nurses will care for cancer patients with diabetes is real and predicted to increase. Oncology nurses face many challenges keeping abreast of the most current cancer treatments within their own specialties. Caring for cancer patients who also have diabetes can complicate the plan. Diabetes care has revolutionized in the past decade with the development of many new types of insulins all with varying actions, onset, and monitoring criteria. Oncology nurses need to be appraised of the differences between Type I, Type II and steroid-induced diabetes, as well as new advances, in order to provide optimum care for these patients. A push toward earlier treatment of Type II diabetes, with a focus on tight glucose control in all types, places a great responsibility on nurses to ensure safety. A comprehensive review of diabetes, current management strategies, a thorough assessment program and important considerations in the patient with cancer will be demonstrated. This educational presentation will utilize case studies to emphasize relevant nursing care and safety concerns in the oncology patient with diabetes. Thorough screening of all oncology patients for the presence of diabetes is essential. Through increased education oncology nurses can become more knowledgeable about this disease and the special considerations necessary to help minimize complications during and after their cancer treatment. Each day approximately 4,000 people are diagnosed with diabetes. In 2005, 1.5 million new cases of diabetes were diagnosed in people 20 years and older. Type II diabetes is becoming increasingly more common in children and adults. Adult and pediatric oncology nurses must commit themselves to understanding this growing epidemic and how it affects the care of oncology patients.
- Publication
Oncology Nursing Forum, 2006, Vol 33, Issue 2, p413
- ISSN
0190-535X
- Publication type
Academic Journal