Nursing Care in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus and Diabetic Nephropathy: A Two-Case Report

Abstract

This study was conducted as a case study with the objective of applying the nursing process systematically to the nursing care of patients with diabetes mellitus and diabetic nephropathy. Patients were selected using purposive sampling. Data were collected from patients’ medical histories during hospitalization and assessed using Gordon’s 11 Functional Health Patterns to identify individual patient problems. The findings were then used to formulate nursing diagnoses, plan and implement nursing interventions, and summarize and evaluate nursing outcomes. The study reports two cases of patients with diabetes mellitus and diabetic nephropathy. Both patients were female, had hypertension as a comorbidity, and developed respiratory failure requiring endotracheal intubation. However, both patients lacked knowledge regarding complication surveillance and self-management and demonstrated inappropriate self-care behaviors, including dietary management, medication adherence, physical activity, and monitoring for disease-related complications. The findings highlight the importance of individualized and holistic nursing care, comprehensive patient assessment, and appropriate nursing care planning, which can help reduce complications, improve health outcomes, and serve as an effective guideline for the nursing care of patients with diabetes mellitus and diabetic nephropathy.