The nurse discussing foot care with an elderly patient with diabetes realizes that the information she is teaching is extremely important because:

Question

A) An elderly patient with foot ulcers experiences severe foot pain due to diabetic polyneuropathy.
B) Avoiding the complications associated with foot ulcers may mean the difference between institutionalization and continued independent living.
C) Hypoglycemia is a dangerous situation and it may lead to unsteadiness of the feet and falls.
D) Drugs that the patients are required to take for their diabetes often decrease circulation to the lower extremities.

Answer 1

Ans: B
Feedback: The nurse recognizes that providing information on the long-term complications associated with diabetes, especially foot and eye problems, is important. Avoiding amputation through early detection of foot ulcers may mean the difference between institutionalization and continued independent living for the elderly person with diabetes. While the nurse recognizes that hypoglycemia is a dangerous situation that may lead to falls, hypoglycemia is not directly connected to the importance of foot care. The patient with foot ulcers may not realize that he has a foot ulcer because the patient has diminished sensation due to diabetic polyneuropathy and pain is generally absent. The nurse is correct to recognize that patients with diabetes are at risk for decreased circulation to the lower extremities, but she should understand that the decrease in circulation is related to vascular changes and is not associated with drugs administered for the condition.