A middle-aged client who is overweight is diagnosed with diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and high cholesterol while at a physical exam for his new employer. The client is reluctant to take medication and insists that he will not take a lot of pills. What is the BEST way to respond to this client?

Question

a. There are many combination medications that treat multiple diseases and require only a limited number of tablets.
b. You need to take several pills to treat all your ailments.
c. You can try over-the-counter medication and supplements first.
d. You can refuse some medications if you are not comfortable with the amount of pills involved.

Answer 1

a. There are many combination medications that treat multiple diseases and require only a limited number of tablets.
FEEDBACK
a. There are many combination medications with a desired synergistic effect that treat multiple diseases and require only a limited number of tablets. Examples are combined medications for hypertension and diabetes.
b. The number of pills can be limited because of the many available combination drug therapies. .
c. Use of over-the-counter medication and supplements is not a good recommendation, because long-term untreated hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and diabetes will lead to long-standing end organ damage. .
d. It is always the client's right to make the final decision; however, the client needs to be given accurate information and education to make that decision. The potential of denial may exist because this client is at a physical for employment purposes and not for general preventive health maintenance. .