A client diagnosed with type II diabetes is prescribed prednisone for an acute exacerbation of inflammatory bowel disease. Which management strategy should the nurse discuss with the client?

A. "Moon phase" is not a correct term related to prednisone use. The term "moon face" refers to the round, puffy face that can result from prolonged steroid use, which is a side effect, but it is not something the patient needs to notify the healthcare provider about unless it is accompanied by other severe symptoms.
B. Taking the steroid medication as prescribed is essential. Prednisone is a corticosteroid, and missing doses or abruptly stopping the medication can lead to complications such as adrenal insufficiency. It's important for the client to adhere to the prescribed regimen to manage inflammation and minimize the risk of side effects.
C. Steroids like prednisone can cause increased blood glucose levels, so it's important for the client to monitor blood glucose more frequently. If blood glucose levels exceed 150 mg/dL, they should notify their healthcare provider, but this is not the immediate management strategy for this scenario.
D. Prednisone should be taken with food to reduce gastrointestinal irritation, not on an empty stomach. Taking it without food can increase the risk of stomach upset and ulcers, particularly in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

A. Serum phosphorus is crucial to monitor in patients at risk for refeeding syndrome. Hypophosphatemia is a key sign of the syndrome and can lead to severe complications, such as respiratory failure and cardiac arrhythmias.
B. Serum blood glucose levels are important to monitor, especially since refeeding syndrome can cause rapid shifts in glucose metabolism. However, it is not a primary test to diagnose refeeding syndrome. Blood glucose monitoring will be part of the overall management, but not the core test for the syndrome.
C. Serum calcium should be monitored because it can also decrease in refeeding syndrome due to shifts in phosphate and magnesium levels, which may affect calcium metabolism.
D. Serum potassium is essential to monitor because hypokalemia often occurs in refeeding syndrome as the body shifts electrolytes into cells. This can cause muscle weakness, arrhythmias, and other serious complications.
E. Serum magnesium is also important to check, as hypomagnesemia is commonly seen in refeeding syndrome and can contribute to neurological and cardiac symptoms.