A patient is newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes mellitus. How should the nurse respond when the patient asks how long the insulin injections will be necessary?
a. "Once your pancreas recovers, you may be able to discontinue the injections."
b. "You will need insulin injections for the rest of your life."
c. "If you follow your diet closely, your blood sugar may be controlled by just taking insulin pills."
d. "You may be able to stop the injections if you exercise regularly and adhere to the prescribed diet."
ANS: B
Unless the patient receives a pancreas or islet cell transplant, insulin will be required for life. The pancreas will not recover. Patients with type 1 diabetes must have insulin to survive. At the time of this writing, oral insulin is not available.
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