BLOOD GLUCOSE LEVEL

Blood Glucose Level

Blood Glucose Level

Patient scenario

Mr. A, is 79 years-old lives with his wife. His daughter lives in Surrey and visits once a week. Mr. A, has had prostate cancer in the past, has a 5 year history of Non-insulin dependent diabetes and has Hodgkin's lymphoma. Mr. A, has been managing the diabetes with diet. He has an ulcer on his right foot which is infected with Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. He takes medication for the Prostate cancer and Hodgkin's lymphoma.

At present, Mr A reports that he has had a very low appetite and has not been able to eat solid food for the past three months. He complains on nausea and has had a few episodes of vomiting in the last three months. He is struggling to drink and can only manage a few sips of water. Mr A, feels very weak that his mobility is poor. Nurses are providing full assistance with personal care. Since he is unable to walk to the toilet, he is using a commode on his bedside.

Case Analysis

The patient and his wife agreed that a referral to a dietitian was their first priority. Mr A acknowledged that he had little dietary information to help him achieve weight loss and that his current weight was unhealthy and “embarrassing.” He recognized that his glucose control was affected by large portions of bread and pasta and agreed to start improving dietary control by reducing his portion size by one-third during the week before his dietary consultation(Bellizzi, et al, 2005).

Nutritional deficiencies can lead to loss of appetite in the older people. With the aging process, especially among the older people, comes a deficiency of essential minerals like calcium and zinc in the body that increases the risk of various diseases. Lack of zinc in the body dampens the ability of the taste buds to taste food. This leads to loss of appetite in older men.

Sometimes, things that we take into our body on purpose, like drugs and medications, can cause hormonal changes in the body and effect the ability of the digestive system by slowing the transportation of food to the intestines. For example, drugs like erythromycin hamper the taste buds ability to taste and slow the transportation of the food to the intestines. Amphetamines that are given as a medical aid for weight loss also causes loss of appetite and nausea. Pain killers and anti-arthritis medicines that are almost a routine for many people, can also irritate the inner lining of the stomach and cause an aversion to food. In many cases of digitalis (used in heart medications) and diuretics (used in fluid retention and high blood pressure) consumption, the person's desire to eat lessens to a larger extent.

In particular, unexplained weight loss, loss of appetite, pain and neurological problems are a tip off to dangerous circumstances.

If someone's weight has been steady for a long time and for no known reason there is now weight loss and/or lack of appetite, it may be indicative ...