title: Diabetes management at the end of life: transitioning from tight glycemic control to comfort.
abstract: Tight glycemic control has become the standard of care for prevention of the long-term side effects of diabetes mellitus. When individuals with diabetes approach the end of life from advanced cancer or another chronic illness, they often become anorexic. The result is an increased risk for hypoglycemic episodes. It is appropriate to shift the goal of therapy from tight control of blood sugar to maintaining comfort and enhancing quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Capital Hospice, 6565 Arlington Boulevard, Falls Church, VA 22042, USA. mtice@capitalhospice.org
authors.forename: Martha A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Tice
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000855:Anorexia / Q000209:etiology; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D015190:Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring; D003152:Community Health Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016903:Drug Monitoring / Q000451:nursing; D006699:Home Care Services; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D007003:Hypoglycemia / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D009325:Nausea / Q000209:etiology; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011379:Prognosis; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000379:methods*; D014839:Vomiting / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents