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Heart Failure

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Submitted By nnenna64
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REFLECTION

INTRODUCTION
The essence of this essay is to reflect on my 'lived' personal experience as a newly diagnosed patient with type II Diabetes. The author's assignment was to pretend to have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. As part of this exercise, the author was to maintain a record of exercise, food, and a regular blood sugar monitoring regime on daily basis. This reflection seeks to highlight the impact, experience and changes that occurred in the author's 'lived lifestyle of a patient with type II diabetes' and will include reference to current literature, research, theories and best practice. The author would explain the changes that occurred in her life and how experiencing type two diabetes has helped her to understand the challenges patients undergo in relation to their daily routine of monitoring their blood sugar levels. The author will explain how her 'lived experience' would help her understand and provide the necessary support for people with diabetes in the future.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION
I am a female non-smoker of African descent. I am married with two children aged 13 and 21. My thirteen-year old daughter currently lives with me in New Zealand. I am of an average height of about 163cm and weigh 80kg which signifies an unhealthy BMI of 30.1 (Health Information for New Zealanders, (n.d.) BMI Calculator section) I am currently out of job and often depressed as a result of my inactivity. I have a normal blood pressure of 136/78 and my pulse rate is usually 62-64bpm at rest. During the period of this exercise, my husband was away in the United Kingdom and I was alone with my daughter who felt that the exercise was quite exhausting and rigorous, as I had to monitor my blood sugar level four times daily. She used to discourage me from taking the exercise because my fingers were becoming sore.

THE IMPACT OF THE DIAGNOSIS
The idea of

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