Diabetic foot - L'Infirmière Magazine n° 401 du 01/02/2019 | Espace Infirmier
 

L'infirmière Magazine n° 401 du 01/02/2019

 

FORMATION ANGLAIS

ÉMILIEN MOHSEN  

Professeur d’anglais aux IFSI de Nancyauteur de « Maîtriser l’anglais
médical » et « L’anglais médical
pratique », éd. Lamarre

During an internship, a trainee nurse is enquiring about what patient education measures should be given to a patient who is prone to diabetes.

Trainee nurse: The other day a patient asked me for some advice on footcare as he seems to suffer from diabetes, and I was wondering what important information we should give.

→ Resident nurse: It’s a good thing to always start by reminding patients about the basics, that’s insulin, a hormone made by the pancreas, helps glucose from food get into the body cells to be used for energy. Sometimes the body doesn’t make enough, or any, insulin or doesn’t use insulin well. Glucose then stays in the blood and doesn’t reach body cells. Over time, having too much glucose in the blood can cause major health problems, like blindness, cardiac disorders, veins problems, vision impairment, and what not.

→ Trainee nurse: I mean, since the patient knows what he suffers from, what advice to give?

→ Resident nurse: People who suffer from diabetes must take special care of their feet, as they are at a higher risk of infection and necrosis that can lead to amputation.

Trainee nurse: And how could I justify this information?

Resident nurse: It’s that the increased prevalence of infection among diabetics is due to a lack of sensitivity in the lower extremities, caused by reduced blood flow and nerve damage.

Trainee nurse: So, the best way to care for feet is to prevent these wounds in the first place.

Resident nurse: Exactly. And by the way, what did you tell your patient then?

Trainee nurse: To quit smoking, you know, he told me that he smokes, as this would greatly reduce circulation, which can exacerbate the blood flow problems and sensation.

Resident nurse: And what else?

Trainee nurse: To choose the right footwear, made from fabric that when it rubs against the skin it would not cause foot wounds and ulcers, which would also be loose enough and comfortable, and not tight on the toes.

Resident nurse: The patient might also wear custom-made orthopedic shoes to fit the size, shape and contours of the feet, and thick cotton socks, and maybe use talcum between the toes, to absorb humidity.

Trainee nurse: Yes, but what do we target when we tell patients to check their feet daily?

Resident nurse: That it’s important to inspect one’s feet on a regular basis, keeping an open eye on cuts, cracks, blisters and other signs of the beginning of a wound.

Trainee nurse: And of course, it’s also important to get regular health and blood check-ups at the GP to adapt one’s treatment and anticipate possible complications.

Resident nurse: Exactly, and probably one last thing, to tell patients that regular workouts help to improve the body’s sensitivity to insulin and to manage blood glucose levels, which might help reduce the need for medications.

VOCABULAIRE

Blindness: cécité

Blisters: ampoules

Cracks: fissures

Cuts: coupures

Footcare: soin des pieds

Footwear: chaussures

Vision impairment: déficience visuelle

Workouts: exercice physique

Wound: plaie

Common phrases

The increased prevalence of infection among diabetics is due to a lack of sensitivity in the lower extremities.

→ La prévalence accrue des infections parmi les diabétiques est due au manque de sensibilité dans les membres inférieurs.

It’s important to inspect one’s feet, keeping an open eye on cuts, cracks, blisters and other signs of the beginning of a wound.

→ Il est essentiel d’inspecter ses pieds pour observer la présence de coupures, fissures, ampoules et autres signes qui indiquent le déclenchement d’une plaie.

Taking regular workouts help to improve the body’s sensitivity to insulin and to manage blood glucose levels, which might help reduce the need for medications.

→ Faire du sport régulièrement aide à améliorer la sensibilité corporelle à l’insuline et à gérer le niveau du glucose sanguin, ce qui réduirait la prise médicamenteuse.

You should choose the right footwear that doesn’t rubs against the skin so as not to cause foot wounds and ulcers.

→ Il faut opter pour des chaussures adaptées qui ne frottent pas contre la peau des pieds afin d’éviter les plaies et les ulcères.