Personal Care Skills
Demonstration of one person transfer, two person transfer, dressing, feeding and positioning
Case Study
Write a one-page outline (with at least two references) of what you would include in teaching/ helping Ajay, a 10 year old child with Type 1 Diabetes. He has difficulty with his eyesight but is still able to do his glucometer testing and insulin injections twice a day. Be sure to take into consideration his situation.
1. Different types of insulin
2. Safety precautions
3. Prevention of hypoglycemia
4. Glucometer testing
1. Medication:
The type of insulin Ajay injects should be as prescribed by his doctor. He has some visual impairment but he can do the injections himself but the EA could keep and provide him the medication. According to Fox, Sönsken and Kilvert (2008), insulin starts working after 30 minutes of its injection and it may last for four to eight hours (p. 40). Not every insulin is the same so knowing how long it lasts is important and his medication time should be scheduled twice a day as suggested by the physician in a timely manner.
2. Safety precautions:
Fox et al. (2008) prescribes the following safety measures:
Foods for emergency that the EA could keep (Fox et al., 2008, p. 288):
Each of the following contains 10 g carbohydrate.
3. Prevention of Hypoglycemia (Ferry, 2014, para. 1):
4. Glucometer Testing:
Knowing Ajay's glucose levels can determine what he can eat and how effective the medication is. On WikiHow (2015), the following are things needed to conduct the test: glucometer, test strips, lancets, alcohol, cotton balls, and paper and a writing tool (if the meter does not automatically store the results). He can supply the glucometer, test strips and lancets while the rest could be provided by the EA. The EA could assist him in conducting the test such as having him to wash his hands and providing him with the tools.
Procedure:
1. Test the glucometer before use.
2. Wash hands.
3. Dab alcohol on a cotton ball.
4. Put in a test strip into the glucometer.
5. Swab the area to prick with the cotton ball.
6. Wait for the glucometer until it is ready to read blood.
7. Prick the alcohol cleaned area with a lancet.
8. Place a drop of blood on the test strip and wait for the results.
9. Read and record the results.
10. Throw away the test strip and lancet.
References:
Write a one-page outline (with at least two references) of what you would include in teaching/ helping Ajay, a 10 year old child with Type 1 Diabetes. He has difficulty with his eyesight but is still able to do his glucometer testing and insulin injections twice a day. Be sure to take into consideration his situation.
1. Different types of insulin
2. Safety precautions
3. Prevention of hypoglycemia
4. Glucometer testing
1. Medication:
The type of insulin Ajay injects should be as prescribed by his doctor. He has some visual impairment but he can do the injections himself but the EA could keep and provide him the medication. According to Fox, Sönsken and Kilvert (2008), insulin starts working after 30 minutes of its injection and it may last for four to eight hours (p. 40). Not every insulin is the same so knowing how long it lasts is important and his medication time should be scheduled twice a day as suggested by the physician in a timely manner.
2. Safety precautions:
Fox et al. (2008) prescribes the following safety measures:
- The EA should never stop insulin if Ajay feels ill or sick. Check his blood glucose frequently and he should intake extra short-acting insulin every 3 to 4 hours if he is high. The EA should be prepared with a high sugar drink for when he is low (p. 286).
- The EA should check that he drinks lots of fluid. If he cannot keep down fluids, he should go to the hospital for an intravenous drip. (p. 286)
- He may need "sugar or some similar quick-acting carbo-hydrate" (p. 286) so the EA can always be kept and ready or he himself can keep it and the EA can check that he has it. Glucogel that is absorbed through the cheeks or gums or sugary drinks may also help (p. 287).
- "Physical exercise is likely to bring on a hypo" (p. 286) so the EA should be cautious of what activities he could participate in class and allow for his omission.
- "Repeated vomiting, drowsiness and laboured breathing are serious warning signs in someone with diabetes" (p. 287). In that kind of an emergency, the EA should call 911 and he should be immediately taken to the hospital.
Foods for emergency that the EA could keep (Fox et al., 2008, p. 288):
Each of the following contains 10 g carbohydrate.
- 100 mL pure fruit juice
- 100 mL Coca-Cola, Pepsi or similar
- 60 mL Lucozade®
- small scoop ice-cream
- two sugar cubes or two teaspoons of sugar
- one ordinary jelly cube or two heaped tablespoons of made-up jelly
- 200 mL (about 1⁄3 pint) of milk
- small bowl of thickened soup
- two cream crackers
- one natural yoghurt
- one diet fruit yoghurt
- one apple or pear or orange
- one small banana
- three Dextro-Energy tablets
3. Prevention of Hypoglycemia (Ferry, 2014, para. 1):
- The EA needs to make sure that the medication is taken care of as prescribed.
- The EA needs to check that he eats on time and never miss meals. There should be a schedule for his eating routine.
- Food eaten and exercise done should be evenly balanced. The EA should check his dietary habits make sure that he follows through.
4. Glucometer Testing:
Knowing Ajay's glucose levels can determine what he can eat and how effective the medication is. On WikiHow (2015), the following are things needed to conduct the test: glucometer, test strips, lancets, alcohol, cotton balls, and paper and a writing tool (if the meter does not automatically store the results). He can supply the glucometer, test strips and lancets while the rest could be provided by the EA. The EA could assist him in conducting the test such as having him to wash his hands and providing him with the tools.
Procedure:
1. Test the glucometer before use.
2. Wash hands.
3. Dab alcohol on a cotton ball.
4. Put in a test strip into the glucometer.
5. Swab the area to prick with the cotton ball.
6. Wait for the glucometer until it is ready to read blood.
7. Prick the alcohol cleaned area with a lancet.
8. Place a drop of blood on the test strip and wait for the results.
9. Read and record the results.
10. Throw away the test strip and lancet.
References:
- Ferry Jr., R. (2014). Low Blood Suger (Hypoglycemia). Retrieved from http://www.emedicinehealth.com/low_blood_sugar_hypoglycemia/page12_em.htm.
- Fox, C., Sönsken, P., & Kilvert, A. (2008). Type 1 Diabetes. London: Class Publishing.
- WikiHow. (2015). How to Use a Glucometer. Retrieved from http://www.wikihow.com/Use-a-Glucometer.