Nursing Assessment

• Obtain a history of current problems, family history, and general health history.
  • Has the patient experienced polyuria, polydipsia, polyphagia, and any other symptoms?
  • Number of years since diagnosis of diabetes
  • Family members diagnosed with diabetes, their subsequent treatment, and complications
• Perform a review of systems and physical examination to assess for signs and symptoms of diabetes, general health of patient, and presence of complications.
  • General: recent weight loss or gain, increased fatigue, tiredness, anxiety
  • Skin: skin lesions, infections, dehydration, evidence of poor wound healing
  • Eyes: changes in vision—floaters, halos, blurred vision, dry or burning eyes, cataracts, glaucoma
  • Mouth: gingivitis, periodontal disease
  • Cardiovascular: orthostatic hypotension, cold extremities, weak pedal pulses, leg claudication
  • GI: diarrhea, constipation, early satiety, bloating, increased flatulence, hunger or thirst
  • Genitourinary (GU): increased urination, nocturia, impotence, vaginal discharge
  • Neurologic: numbness and tingling of the extremities, decreased pain and temperature perception, changes in gait and balance