Andrew is a 70 years old man. He is suffering from type 1 diabetes mellitus. His only brother and father died of type one diabetes mellitus. Currently, Andrew has expressed fears that he has a genetic predisposition, which he may have passed on to his grandchildren.
The family’s history indicates that Andrew’s father lived a healthy lifestyle. As such, he never smoked cigarettes nor smoked. On the other hand, his brother had obesity complications. The brother was a heavy smoker and a drinker. Andrew’s mother lived to the age of 89. His mother died of hypertension. In this family, type 1 diabetes mellitus could likely be attributed to genetic predisposition rather than lifestyle habits or natural causes.
Concerning reproduction history, Andrew’s father and his mother had two sons and a sister. He has two daughters and a son. Andrew’s family is an American kinfolk of Irish descent. The first family members to reside in the region were Simon Andrew and Bridget Morph. They both emigrated from Ireland to America in 1894. There are slight growth and development variations among Andrew’s family members. Andrew’s brother is the only one who developed obesity among the three siblings. He developed obese complications in his teenagehood. He died in his mid-fifties, unlike his parents who died in their 80s.
In the family, Andrew is the only member who thinks that his disease is caused by a genetic predisposition. His father believed that he contracted the disease through aging. On the other hand, his brother believed that he developed the ailment through his unhealthy lifestyle. As such, he was a chain smoker and an alcoholic. Although there are high chances that he developed type 1 diabetes mellitus through genetic predisposition, there are possibilities that the disease was triggered and worsened by his unhealthy lifestyle habits.
Based on the above case study, family members may have many questions about potential genetic risks. The first question relates to the possibility that type 1 diabetes mellitus among the family members has been passed on to grandchildren from Andrew’s father (Pruthi, 2014). There is also the possibility that the disease-causing gene is only transferred to male siblings because female members have not been diagnosed with the disease.
Concerning my obtained assessment, a family health nurse should implement appropriate intervention strategies to prevent and manage the disease among the family members (James, 2015). For many diabetic patients, managing blood glucose levels within the range endorsed by the physician can be thought-provoking (Kaakinen, 2015). In his pharmacologic therapy, Andrew should note that he requires enduring insulin treatment. He requires two or more doses of insulin every day. The injections should be regulated based on self-checking of blood sugar points. Lasting management necessitates a multidisciplinary method that comprises doctors, nurses, dietitians, and designated professionals. The above implies that Andrew should work closely with his physicians to ensure his therapy is a success. He should work together with the professionals in coming up with glycemic goals. The objectives should focus on sleep time and hemoglobin levels. The nurse should also note that exercise is a significant component of type 1 diabetes medication. Through this, Andrew can be able to manage long-term complications related to the disease (Pruthi, 2014). As such, practice will enable him to control his blood glucose with ease.
References
James, T. (2015). Type 1 diabetes. Web.
Kaakinen, J. (2015). Family health care nursing (5th ed.). Philadelphia: F.A. Davis Co.
Pruthi, S. (2014). Clinical Diabetes:Therapeutics. Diabetes, 63(1), 59-63.