Nursing Practice Problem and PICOT Question

Literature Evaluation: In Older Patients with Type 2 Diabetes on Drug and Diet therapy, what is the effect of undertaking regular physical activity (PA) compared to Physical Inactivity on blood sugar levels?
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Nursing Practice Problem and PICOT Question
Type 2 diabetes is among the most prevalent medical conditions of the modern era. According to the World Health Organization, the number of people with diabetes globally increased from 108 million to 422 million between 1980 and 2014, marking a remarkable and drastic increase. Since diabetes is a chronic illness, it does not have treatment except for management and control. Several approaches are either used singly or in combination to enhance positive health outcomes among patients. Drug, diet, and physical activity therapies are among the most common diabetes prevention and management approaches. Given the scope with which diabetes continues to impact the global population, there is an increasing need for affordable and reliable management strategies. As a result, the current paper explores the influence of physical activity and (or) inactivity on the blood sugar levels of older diabetes patients already on drug and diet therapy. The purpose of the study is to determine whether physical activity or otherwise impacts blood sugar levels om older type 2 diabetes patients undergoing drug and dietary therapy. Thus, the current paper explores some qualitative and quantitative peer-reviewed research articles that discuss the stipulated topic.
Therefore, the PICOT question guiding the current analysis is: In Older Patients with Type 2 Diabetes on Drug and Diet therapy, what is the effect of undertaking regular physical activity (PA) compared to Physical Inactivity on blood sugar levels?
Background
A fundamental problem with diabetic patients is that they often encounter barriers to leisure-time physical activities. According to Alghafri et al. CITATION Alg17 \n \t \l 2057 (2017), physical activity is a crucial necessity for metabolic control in the management of diabetes. Therefore, the purpose of the study by authors was to identify the barriers to performing leisure-time physical activity by focusing on demographic information like marital status, gender, income, perceived stage of change, age, and gender. The significance of the study to the nursing practice is that it reveals ways in which nurses can navigate the barriers faced by type 2 diabetes patients already on drug and dietary therapy. The study's authors concluded that navigating these barriers enhances social support and self-efficacy in diabetes management.
In a different study, Juul, Rowlands, and Maindal CITATION Juu18 \n \t \l 2057 (2018) premised an association between health literacy (HL) and physical activity in Danish individuals with type 2 diabetes. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to establish the extent to which health literacy impacts patients' adherence to physical activity regimes as part of diabetes management. In the study, the authors concluded that functional HL and autonomous motivation might be the essential factors for adhering to recommendations on physical exercise. Thus, the source is relevant to nursing because it highlights the importance of health literacy, an approach that nurses can pursue to assist type 2 diabetes patients through physical therapy where diet and drug therapies are already underway.
In a similar study, albeit with a different approach, Yom-Tov et al CITATION Yom17 \n \t \l 2057 (2017) argue that while physical activity is an essential necessity for managing type 2 diabetes, many people choose or are constrained to a sedentary lifestyle. However, smartphones have emerged as motivational technological tools that encourage people to engage in physical activities through continuous communication, monitoring, and personalized feedback. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to aid type 2 diabetes patients to increase the level of their physical activities. This is relevant to the nursing practice because it helps nurses design sessions or regimes for patients for maximum positive outcomes.
Lastly, Espeland et al. CITATION Esp171 \n \t \l 2057 (2017) premised that type 2 diabetes significantly impacts how physical activity affects patients' cognitive function. The study revealed that physical activity interventions improve the gait speed of older people leading a sedentary lifestyle. Further, the interventions increased the cognitive functions of participants with diabetes. The outcome is relevant to the nursing practice because it informs on the applicability and reliability of physical exercise intervention on patients with type 2 diabetes.
How do these four articles support the nurse practice issue you chose?
The selected articles will each plays a significant role in answering the PICOT question in the current project. For instance, Espeland et al (2017) provides some of the most common physical activities that older individuals can engage in. These include flexibility exercise, walking, and resistance training. This aspect contributes to the PICOT question because it provides non-costly dimensions to management of diabetes. Since these exercises were found to hasten the gut speed among older individuals, it indicates that there is a positive impact on blood sugar levels. Similarly, the work by Yom-Tov et al (2017) contributes on this point. In the study, patients who received personalized messages and feedback on their smartphones increased the pace of walking and intensity of p...