The nurse is teaching a patient recently diagnosed with type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) about the disease. What information should the nurse include?

A. Insulin is typically administered via injections or an insulin pump, not in pill form. Individuals with type 1 diabetes require exogenous insulin to manage their blood sugar levels because their pancreas does not produce insulin.
B. Carbohydrate counting is a fundamental skill for individuals with diabetes, as it allows them to adjust their insulin dosage to match their carbohydrate intake, thereby helping to manage blood sugar levels.
C. Regular foot monitoring is crucial for individuals with diabetes, as they are at increased risk of developing foot problems due to nerve damage (neuropathy) and poor circulation.
D. Maintaining blood glucose levels within the target range (80-130 mg/dL before meals) helps reduce the risk of both short-term complications (e.g., hypoglycemia) and long-term complications (e.g., neuropathy, retinopathy) associated with diabetes.

A. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition where the body's immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. As a result, the pancreas produces little to no insulin, which is essential for regulating blood glucose levels.
B. Type 1 diabetes is not reversible. It is a lifelong condition that requires ongoing management with insulin therapy. While diet, exercise, and weight management are important for overall health and can help manage blood glucose levels, they cannot reverse type 1 diabetes.
C. This description is characteristic of type 2 diabetes, not type 1. In type 2 diabetes, the body’s cells become resistant to the effects of insulin, and the pancreas may not produce enough insulin. In type 1 diabetes, the problem is the lack of insulin production due to autoimmune destruction of the pancreatic beta cells.
D. Insulin is not released into the gastrointestinal tract. Insulin is a hormone that is released into the bloodstream by the pancreas. Its primary role is to help regulate blood glucose levels by facilitating the uptake of glucose into the body's cells for energy.