Introduction
This paper provides a summary and analysis of the article by Jill Hill (2015), which is entitled “Diabetes and dementia: The implications for diabetes nursing,” and was published in Journal of Diabetes Nursing, which is a British peer-reviewed journal for professionals in diabetes nursing, in vol. 19, no. 4, pages 148-151. The article is summarized, after which some critique of it is supplied.
Summary of the Contents of the Article
The article by Hill (2015) addresses such two adverse health conditions as type 2 diabetes and dementia. It is stated that the prevalence of both these diseases considerably increases as a person becomes older, so the combination of these two conditions is most often encountered in elderly persons (Hill, 2015). The article discusses the possible links between the two illnesses, as well as the risk of developing one of the conditions when already having the other.
Some methods of diagnosing dementia are also explained. In addition, the author considers the implications for people who have dementia and are developing diabetes (e.g., problems in diagnosing due to inability to recognize the symptoms of diabetes), and for those who have diabetes and develop dementia (additional risk of hypoglycemia due to forgetting to eat or taking drugs more than once when they forget that they already took them). The general guidelines for the management of the two conditions are supplied (with a focus on simplicity and safety, as well as on updating the care plan regularly due to progressing conditions), and overall conclusions are stated (Hill, 2015).
The Balance of the Article
The article by Hill (2015) appears well-balanced. It addresses both sides of the problem, i.e. it discusses both conditions and the consequences of each of them, as well the treatment and care implications resulting from the peculiarities of this combination. No bias was found in the article.
The Quality of the Article
It might be possible to state that the writer did sufficient research; the article contains 18 references to different sources. Even though some of them are various nursing standards or guidelines, these seem appropriate given the fact that the paper by Hill (2015) is aimed at elaborating on the implications of the combination of the two health conditions for nursing. The article appears technically correct; for instance, it is consistent with the findings of Benetos et al. (2013) related to diabetes management, and with the information given by Verkaik, van Antwerpen-Hoogenraad, de Veer, Francke, and in het Veld (2016) related to dementia care.
The information in Hill (2015) is presented clearly; for the convenience of readers, the key points are given (pp. 148-149), as well as a table of considerations for caring for people with the two conditions (p. 150). The article, as was stressed, is supported with references to scholarly literature and various nursing standards. However, it might be useful to supply the statement pertaining to the need to provide additional education and training for nurses who care for people with diabetes in order to enable them to properly serve patients who develop both conditions with additional details.
A follow-up article that may be useful after reading the article by Hill (2015) might contain guidelines pertaining to medication which could be prescribed for persons suffering from both dementia and diabetes. On the whole, the author of this paper agrees with the article by Hill (2015); it is especially important that nurses providing care for patients with the two diseases in question should focus on supplying safe conditions for the clients.
The article also supported the author’s opinion related to the need to concentrating on simplicity for the patients, for the customers with both dementia and diabetes need to be able to take into account both their illnesses, which is especially difficult to them due to memory problems; thus, it is needed to make the care guidelines for them as easy as possible so that they could follow them on their own as long as they are able to do so.
References
Benetos, A., Novella, J.-L., Guerci, B., Blickle, J.-F., Boivin, J.-M., Cuny, P.,…Weryha, G. (2013). Pragmatic diabetes management in nursing homes: Individual care plan. The Journal of Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine, 14(11), 791-800.
Hill, J. (2015). Diabetes and dementia: The implications for diabetes nursing. Journal of Diabetes Nursing, 19(4), 148-151. Web.
Verkaik, R., van Antwerpen-Hoogenraad, P., de Veer, A., Francke, A., & in het Veld, J. H. (2016). Self-management-support in dementia care: A mixed methods study among nursing staff. Dementia, 0(0), 1-13. Web.