Diabetes Mellitus Nursing Diagnosis & Care Plan

The American Diabetes Association estimates that there are over 38.4 million Americans, or 11.6% of the population, who have diabetes mellitus (DM). This number increases drastically each year, including the ongoing rise of prediabetes.

Because of the very high prevalence, you are bound to care for these patients in both hospital and outpatient settings. Collaborating with other nurses to develop cohesive care plans, including manageable long-term and short-term care goals, will help the patient succeed. Keep reading to learn more about diabetes mellitus nursing care plans and the best nursing diagnosis and templates based on this disease.

What is Diabetes Mellitus?

Diabetes mellitus is a disorder in which the body does not produce enough or respond normally to insulin, leading to higher blood sugar levels. There are two types of diabetes mellitus, as well as prediabetes. ¹

Prediabetes: Blood glucose levels are too high to be considered normal but not high enough to be labeled diabetes. Fasting glucose levels in people with prediabetes range from 100 to 125 mg/dL.

Type 1: Formerly referred to as insulin-dependent diabetes or juvenile-onset diabetes. The body’s immune system attacks insulin-producing cells and permanently destroys most of them.

Type 2: Formerly referred to as non-insulin dependent diabetes of adult-onset diabetes. Insulin is produced in the pancreas, but at higher-than-normal levels. The body eventually develops a resistance, and there is not enough insulin to meet its needs. ²

Symptoms of Diabetes Mellitus

Symptoms of DM include:

• Frequent urination
• Fatigue
• Blurred vision
• Unexplained weight loss
• Numbness in hands and/or feet
• Slow-healing cuts
• Irritability
• Increased hunger
• Drowsiness
• Nausea
• Dry mouth
• Mood changes
• Increased thirst
• Decreased endurance during exercise ³

Diabetes Mellitus Risk Factors

Risk factors include:

• Age
• Ethnicity / Race
• Geographical living location
• Environmental factors
• Socioeconomic level
• Obesity
• Genetics ¹

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How to Develop a Diabetes Mellitus Nursing Care Plan

When developing a diabetes mellitus nursing care plan, the first step is determining a patient’s goals. Although you’ll generate parts of the nursing care plan on your own, the nursing diagnosis must be on the NANDA-I approved nursing diagnosis list.

According to the North American Nursing Diagnosis Association (NANDA),  a nursing diagnosis is “a clinical judgment about the human response to health conditions/life processes, or a vulnerability for that response, by an individual, family, group or community.”

A nursing diagnosis is rooted in Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs pyramid and helps prioritize treatments. Based on the nursing diagnosis, you’ll set goals to resolve your patient’s problems through nursing implementations determined in the next step.

NANDA-I separates nursing diagnoses into four categories:

• Problem-focused: A diagnosis based on patient problems present during a nursing assessment.
• Risk: A diagnosis based on risk factors that require intervention from a nurse or healthcare team before a real problem develops.
• Health promotion: A diagnosis that intends to improve the overall well-being of an individual, family, or community.
• Syndrome: Based on a cluster of nursing diagnoses that occur in a pattern or can all be addressed through the same or similar nursing interventions.

Determining the most important goals for the patient and the corresponding nursing diagnosis provides the basis to create a diabetes mellitus care plan that can best support the patient while reaching those goals.

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Diabetes Mellitus Nursing Care Plan Components

A nursing care plan has several key components, including: 

• Nursing Diagnosis
• Expected outcome
• Nursing interventions and rationales
• Evaluation

Each of the five main components is essential to the overall nursing process and care plan. A properly written care plan must include these sections. Otherwise, it won’t make sense.

• Nursing diagnosis: A clinical judgment that helps nurses determine the plan of care for their patients.
• Expected outcome: The measurable action for a patient to be achieved in a specific time frame. 
• Nursing interventions and rationales: Actions to be taken to achieve expected outcomes and reasoning behind them.
• Evaluation: Determines the effectiveness of the nursing interventions and determines if expected outcomes are met within the time set.

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Diabetes Mellitus Nursing Care Plan Examples

All nursing diagnoses must be NANDA-I approved and have corresponding definitions to help guide nurses in writing a nursing care plan. ⁴

Other Nursing Care Plans

• Hypertension Nursing Care Plan
• Acute Pain Nursing Care Plan
• Constipation Nursing Care Plan
• Infection Nursing Care Plan

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References

¹ “Diabetes - Symptoms and causes.” 2024. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetes/symptoms-causes/syc-20371444.

² McCance, Kathryn L., Sue E. Huether, Valentina L. Brashers, and Neal S. Rote, eds. 2019. Pathophysiology: The Biologic Basis for Disease in Adults and Children. 8th ed. N.p.: Elsevier.

³ Ball, Jane W., Seidel's Guide to Physical Examination: An Interprofessional Approach. 9 ed., Elsevier, 2019.

⁴ Herdman, T. H., Shigemi Kamitsuru, and Camila Lopes, eds. 2024. NANDA-I International Nursing Diagnoses: Definitions & Classification, 2024-2026. 13th ed. N.p.: Thieme Medical Publishers.

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