Utilizing Orem's Self-Care Nursing Model in Designing an Educational Program for the Diabetic

This review from the Royal Infirmary in Edinburgh , Scotland concerns the safety of the various birth control methods in insulin dependent diabetic women . Combined estrogen/ progestogen pills were associated with an increased risk of thromboembolic disease . Thromboembolic complications included cerebral ischemia, myocardial infarction, and vein thrombosis. In contrast, the progestogen-only pill was found to be successful and associated with only menstrual irregular ities. Intrauterine devices were assoc iated with a high failure rate (11 of 30 became pregnant during the first year) . They concluded that the combined estrogen/progestogen pill and intrauterine devices were potentially dangerous and/or unacceptable forms of contraception and the progestogenonly pill was the preferred method of contraception in insulin-dependent diabetic women . Stephen Hamburger, MD