Simon Case Study - Multipurpose Medical Centre Assessment

Case Study :

Simon is a 54 year old male lawyer who lives in Burleigh on the Gold Coast. He was diagnosed as a type 2 diabetic 2 mths ago. He has been married for 25 years to Mary a marketing consultant; they have 2 children who are both living at home while attending university. 

He has had frequent visits to his GP to try and get his blood glucose under control; however he is having issues with this and also coping with his diagnosis. 

Simon is 180cm tall, weighs 100kgs, waist circumference of 104cm = a BMI of 29 this puts him in the overweight category and the high risk range for diabetic complications. 

Simon also smokes approx. 4-6 cigarettes a day, drinks wine most evenings and struggles to eat healthy due to long work hours and meetings. Simon also tries to walk early in the morning however only seems to manage this on weekends. As he is in work shoes all week he likes to walk in thongs.  

Simon has been reluctant to face the fact he has diabetes, however he has been feeling a bit low lately and has decided it’s time to “sort his disease out”, the doctor has recommended that he attend diabetic education and planning which is conducted at the nearby community health centre where you work. 

1. Simon’s wife Mary has been told about the National Diabetic Services Scheme (NDSS) and would like to know what provisions for support and funding do they provide for diabetics.

In regards to the NDSS, outline 3 ways this service can assist Simon and his family – must include 1 funding benefit that applies to Simon.  

2. Aside from the NDSS, discuss 3 other credible diabetic organisations that you could suggest for Simon and his wife to access that will assist with their support – you may also include local support groups. 

You must also identify the service and what they offer that will compliment Simon’s needs. Within your answer identify how Simon can make contact with these groups and identify who else within the interdisciplinary team would benefit from this information

3. Discuss 2 ways you as the EN can liaise with diabetic services so that you know what to recommend to Simon and his family.

4. Outline 3 ways you can ensure that Simon and his wife understand the management of his condition

5. Discuss how a family / carers understanding of diabetes can affect a diabetic person’s planning and implementation of any devised plan.

6. Discuss Briefly 3 factors experienced by Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people that may contribute to their higher rates of diabetes. 

7. Discuss 3 issues relating to diabetic care delivery or services in Australia

Case study 2

You are the EN on shift at a multipurpose medical centre; your next patient to review prior to the doctor is Chloe aged 15 a Type 1 Diabetic in year 10 at school. While you are taking her vitals and BGL you ask her how she has been going, she makes the following comments during your conversation.

“Sometimes you’ll binge eat and you’ll feel disgusting and you’re like, ‘Well, I just won’t inject my insulin for it and it’ll kind of even itself out again’... it sounds screwed up.” 

“I’m fat compared to Sara”

“Why do I have to have diabetes, why can’t I be normal, it’s so frustrating?

8a. Outline 4 factors that can influence self-esteem in a young person

8b. As a nurse hearing these comments from Chloe, outline 4 nursing strategies you could help Chloe with, to build up her self-esteem