what signs do you look for if someone isn't eating well that is diabetic?

Question

i am doing my nvq in health and social care and have got stuck can anyone help

Answer 1

If they are eating too much sugar/carbohydrate for their level of insulin they wil become 'acidotic'. Depending how high their blood sugar levels are, the following will happen - breath smells like sweet acid (like pear drops), increased thirst and urination, tiredness, lethargy, weight loss, insomnia, loss conciousness if left too long.
If not eating enought carbohydrate (ie they took their insulin but forgot to have a meal at the right time) pale, sweaty, clammy, 'shock' like sympyoms, forgetfullness, vagueness, collapse, coma.
If in doubt - give sugar. Rub it on the gums if they can't swallow it. You can buy glucometers in good chemists - simple to use devices that will test a drop of their blood from a finger prick and give you a reading.

Answer 2

If somebody has high blood sugars then it may be an indication that they are not eating how they should be however it could be because they need more treatment for the diabetes. A diabetic diet should be a 'healthy diet' so low fat,low sugar. There are two common types of diabetes type 1 and type 2. Type 2 effects people who are usually over 40. They are usually treated by diet first, then tablets and if not successful then insulin. To get a good idea how well diabetes is controlled it is best to do blood sugars through out the day for one day a week rather than sporadically as it gives a more accurate picure. If someones blood sugars are very low in the morning then they may need a snack before bed time. Sometimes if someone with diabetes has eaten something too sugary their blood sugar will rise. A normal blood sugar should be between around 4 and 7 mmols.
If it is below this they may experience a hypoglaecemic episode. They will become hot and sweaty and then vacant and if not treated then go into a coma. If someone has low blood sugars they should take a sugary suppliment like dextrose tablets.

Answer 3

It depends how they are eating really. If they are eating too much sugary foods then they will have high blood sugars but sugary foods give an instant high and then they drop down at a fast rate so they can be cranky and irritable then they may appear lethargic and sleepy (high and low attributes).

If the person is eating lots of carbohydrates with sugary food this will make them high, they will probably be thirsty and need the toilet frequently, they may appear angry and irritable, their breath will probably smell like sweets.

If they are not eating enough then it will have the opposite effect on their blood sugars. They will be shaky and cold to touch yet sweaty, they will also be irritable but in a more distinctive way, they will be very dismissive and not pay attention, they may appear drunk.

Basically if you notice that the person isn't acting the way they usual do, if they seem to be picking arguments or seem distracted. I have found over time that some diabetics experience different symptoms so don't take any of the things other diabetics have said to be wrong, but my explaination is most typical.

Answer 4

This depends on the type of diabetes, and if you mean not eating enough or eating too much. It also depends on the individual and how their diabetes is controlled. Many people with type 1 diabetes carbohydrate count - this means that they add up the amount of carbohydrate that they have eaten and adjust how much insulin they take to match. This means that you can eat anything you like, so I guess the answer in that situation would be the same as for anyone - they are getting too fat or too thin!

However, many more people with type 1 diabetes do not carb count. They might adjust their insulin dose according to how much they are eating or exercising or they may not adjust their doses at all. In this case if they eat different sized meals but take the same insulin dose for each then their blood sugars are likely to be quite up and down - they might have lots of hypos (when their blood sugar is too low) and lots of highs (test for these using a blood meter - most people with type 1 carry these and their will probably also be one in the ward/health centre where you are working). If their blood sugar is very often very high they might have ketones in their blood (these are produced because your body can't use the carbs in your blood so it breaks down protein to use for energy instead - ketones are an acidic waste product of this process that can cause serious organ damage) - you can check for this if their breath smells kind of sweet, or in blood or urine (I've never heard anything about high blood sugars or ketones affecting your tears before). Their is a potential for coma, but this is under extreme circumstances - if someone doesn't take their insulin at all for several days then this is a possibility.

For people with type 2 diabetes, not eating would be less of a problem until their condition is far enough advanced that they need certain tablets or insulin injections, in which case they would be similar to the above. For those who are regularly eating too much their blood sugars will be high (test using a blood meter) - they will probably be generally unwell - tired, pale, depressed. I'm not sure if they could get high levels of ketones or not. Over eating can progress their diabetes and a change in treatment may be required. The test for this again would be to check their blood sugar using a blood meter.

For everyone with high blood sugar their are also some common basic signs that you could pick out as a potential symptom - being extreemly thirsty; going to the toilet a lot - esp. if getting up during the night; sweet smelling breath (caused by keetones); weight loss; general poor health - susceptibility to infections, tiardnesss, pale complexion, depression etc.

If you want to know more about diabetes check out www.diabetes.org.uk or www.diabetesnow.co.uk.

Answer 5

ahhhhhh this i know all about!!!! first of all thought it depends on what they are eating if a diabetic is eating incorrectly then there blood suger levels will be effected. if they are eating sugary stuff then there will be high blood sugars another sign of prolonged eating of sugar is fluid intake are they dinking more then normal, their eyes may look abit glazzy, they may get sick also their breath may smell of keytones when this is the cas it is quite dangerous as this can lead to ketoasidosis.
if someone is having reocoring hypos then they may be getting to much insulin and not enough food.
thats the thing about diabetes you neve know if they are eating incorrectly of if they need their insulin dose changed.

there is a blood test called HBA1C this looks at blood sugar for the last 6 weeks this is an indicator to how well they control their blood glucos level through insulin and diet)

i hope this helps

Answer 6

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One way to approach diabetes is to use integrative holistic medicine, also known as alternative medicine, a medical specialty that focuses on caring for the whole person, treating and preventing disease, and empowering patients to create conditions for optimal health.

Answer 7

Easy physical things to notice would be the following:

-Dryness and white spotting around the corners of the mouth, due to dehydration from high sugar levels.

-An acetone like or fruity odor on the breath from ketoacidosis

-Constant urination

-Unquenchable thirst and/or hunger

-Irritability, mood swings

Answer 8

Low blood sugar with an accucheck machine, unresponsiveness would be the most severe, slurred speach, disorientation, sluggish behavior or movement, acid smelling breath.

Answer 9

IF A DIABETIC DOES NOT EAT WELL THEY WILL GO INTO A COMA. FIRST THEY GET ALL SWEATIE THEN THEY GET THE SHAKES AND NEXT THEY GET SICK OR GO INTO A COMA. NO IF YOU ARTE TALKING ABOUT THEM NOT EATING THE PROPER KIND OF FOOD THAT IS A BIT HARD TO CATCH UNLESS YOU WATCH THE PERSON. THEIR SUGAR WILL GO WAY TOO HIOGH AND START CAUSING DAMAGE TO MOST OF THE BODY ORGANS, LIKE EYE SIGHT KIDNEY FUNCTION ETC. HOPE THIS HELPS YOU .

Answer 10

Raging thirst. Clammy appearance. May seem disorientated. Possible slight tremors in hands.