Chronicles of Diabetes - Research Paper Example

Diabetes due: This is a research article that critiques diabetes: a chronic disease. It gives information on the types, causes and management of the disease. It clearly shows how the disease affects the body and some of the skills that are needed to manage it. The paper also highlights on the recent statistics of individuals who are affected by the condition. The paper discusses on some of the treatments that are available for the disease and also educates on the actions that are necessary so as to prevent one from suffering from an ailment and steps to take to ensure that when diagnosed with the disease it does not progress. The research paper shows the prevalence of the disease. It gives information on the age group; race, ethnicity, body size and sex that have high chances of are getting diabetes mellitus. The paper also highlights on some minor causes of diabetes mellitus, and the severe complications resulted from the disease if it is not diagnosed at an early stage. Keywords: diabetes mellitus, chronic disease, prevalence Introduction Diabetes mellitus known as diabetes is the number of chronically metabolic diseases that are identified by rise in glucose levels in the blood; scientifically know as hyperglycemia (Chandalia at al., 2012). It may occur due to the pancreas producing inadequate amount of insulin, defect in insulin action, or both. It is considered to be the seventh cause of death in United States. The food we consume is catalyzed to glucose which is utilized by the body to provide energy. Hormone insulin, which is synthesized by the beta cells of the pancreas, regulates sugar levels in the blood. According to LeRoith et al. (2004), this is achieved by assisting the glucose in circulating blood to enter the body cells (p.225). Once the glucose has entered the body cells it is used to synthesize energy that is used in all body functions. Long term hyperglycemia result to ailments of the coronary artery, increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases such as strokes, heart attack, angina and heart failure and causes diseases associated with peripheral arteries (macro vascular) and also micro vascular complications in patients. In some cases, it also results in lower limb amputation. The data received for statistics of the number of US residents that were diagnosed by diabetes and prediabetes in 2010 was derived by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Patient Information Reporting System (NPIRS) and the United States renal data system of the national institute of health. The number of residential Americans aged 20 and above was 25.6 million which is equivalent to 11.3 percent of those in that age group. 10.9 million People aged from 65 and over were diagnosed with diabetes. This was 26.9 percent of the entire population in that age group. The findings clearly showed that diabetes risk increase greatly with age. The number of men diagnosed with diabetes was greater than that of women. For men, it was 13 million which was 11.8 percent of men aged 20 years and above and for women it was 12.6 million which was 10.8 percent of women at 20 years and older. 15.7 million Non Hispanic whites had diabetes. This number was 10.2 percent of their population aged 20 and above. For non Hispanic blacks, it was 4.9 million which was equal to 18.7 percent of all non Hispanic black population. Blacks are more likely to have diabetes as compared to whites. 79 million of residential Americans aged 20 years and over had prediabetes. Cases of gestational diabetes were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and the probability of them having type 2 diabetes ranges from 10-20 years. The statistics have been seen to rise over the years. In 2013, 26 Million Americans both young and old had diabetes with 1.9 million citizens diagnosed every year. If this trend continues then one of three United States residential citizens are tested and its proved that they have diabetes. The different categories of diabetes include diabetes type 1, diabetes type 2, gestational diabetes mellitus (usually occurs during pregnancy) and other causes of diabetes include those that are caused, as a result, of intake of drugs or chemicals that are used in the treatment of AIDS or after organ transplantation, defects in beta cells that occur genetically and interfere with its function of producing insulin and lastly, diabetes can also occur in patients that suffer from as cystic fibrosis, which is a disease of the exocrine pancreas (LeRoith et.al. 2004). Some of the general symptoms that are associated with diabetes include extreme thirst, numbness in arms or feet, getting tired often, extreme dry skin, sores that take time to heal, frequent urination, sudden weight loss, changes in ones vision, feeling extreme hunger and having more infections than usual. Not all patients diagnosed with diabetes have these symptoms some may be present and others may not. Those with diabetes type 1 may have some of these symptoms accompanied by stomach aches, nausea and vomiting. Diabetes type 1 Diabetes type 1 is a complex autoimmune disease majorly diagnosed in kids and adolescents that is why it was conventionally called juvenile diabetes. It is also called insulin dependent diabetes (Levy, 2011). It is caused by immune destruction of beta cells in the pancreas which are liable for the production of insulin. This type of diabetes is responsible for 5 to 10% of all the diagnosed cases of diabetes. Factors involved in the progression of this type of diabetes include environmental triggers such as infections and other stress and genetic predisposition. The stages of the type 1 diabetes are genetic predisposition, which is worsened by environmental triggers resulting to injury of beta cells. When this happens, one is considered to be in prediabetes state, and finally one is diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Type 1 Diabetes causes a gradual decrease in the secretion of the hormone insulin. According to Jabbour and Stephens (2013), its short term complications are Blurred vision, exhaustion or fatigue, sudden weight loss, diabetic ketoacidosis and “polys,” Polyuria, polydipsia, polyphagia (p. 170-175). Its long term complications are majorly macrovascular: An example being severe forms of neuropathy; peripheral, Autonomic and Mono neuropathies. It also causes retinopathy, Nephropathy and third Cranial nerve Patsy: Ptosis, eye down and out and the pupil is usually spared. Ketoacidosis is usually severe and occurs when type diabetes type 1 is not diagnosed early. Diabetes type 1 is usually managed by regular and timed insulin injections, keeping watch of blood sugar and by having a special diet that does not have many carbohydrates. Insulin injections help in regulating the glucose level of the affected person. Nutrition therapy used by diabetes patients is meant to maintain: normal body weight to keep blood glucose levels at an optional level and optional blood lipids. A professional in the fields of nutrition therapy who is in charge of designing the meal plan of a diabetic patient needs to consider the age of the patient and the nutrients they require, whether the diabetic patient has additional ailments. and what the patient prefers to eat. A diabetic patient should have Caloric goals that help them to attain and maintained required body weight. For those patients who are moderately active require30 – 35 kcal/kg/day. Recent recommendations by professional groups do not specify the percentage of carbohydrate calories required. The intake varies depending on the amount of protein and fat taken by the patients, which are more specified. The intake of the protein by the patient should always be 10 – 20 percent of the total calories. High protein diet is usually accompanied by initial weight loss and better glycemic control. It is preferred to some patients. Protein intake should be more than 10 percent as it will benefit patients with overt diabetic nephropathy (Cefalu, 2000). Total intake of fat should be maintained at 30 percent. Saturated fat should be less than 7% of the total calories and should be around 20 to 35g per day of both soluble and insoluble fiber; diabetic patients should also involve themselves more with physical activities to help in reducing of glucose levels. Blood glucose levels should always be monitored once one is diagnosed by diabetes. Patients of type 1 diabetes require insulin at all times; whether they are NPO o not. This is because when they are not injected with insulin they are bound to become ketosis within12 to 24 hours. Type 2 Diabetes Type 2 diabetes is majorly diagnosed in adults. This type of diabetes is caused by Rise in glucose production in the liver, over manufacturing of fatty acids by fatty cells, resistance of insulin in the liver and skeletal muscle and deficiency of insulin. There are several characteristics that trigger the development of Type2 diabetes. This includes Obesity, lack of exercising, the age of a person; usually the start of puberty is accompanied by increase of insulin resistance, genetic predisposition, the race or ethnicity of a person and conditions that are brought about by insulin resistance. An example of such a condition is polycystic ovary syndrome (LeRoith et al., 2004). The management of type 2 diabetes after one is diagnosed involves maintaining a healthy diet following nutrition therapy that is mostly similar to that used for type 1 diabetes. The difference comes in the amount of calorie intake. For Type2 diabetes, the patient needs to reduce the intake of calories slightly by 5 – 15 kcal/kg/day. This is equivalent to 20 -30 Kcal/Kg/Day. This is very beneficial especially if the patient does very little or no physical activity. Calorie intake reduction is very important for type 2 diabetes patients since when reduced by 500 calories per day the patient is expected gradually to lose one pound per week. Obesity accounts for 85.2 percent of people with type 2 diabetes. Long term conditions caused by type 1diabetes if not properly control are similar to those of type 2 diabetes. These include eye problems such as blindness, Kidney diseases, higher risk of cardiovascular disease and nerve damage. Diabetes type 2 majorly contributes to kidney failure and is responsible for causing 44 percent of the new reports on kidney failure. Gestational Diabetes Gestational diabetes usually occurs in 2 to 5 percent of pregnancy cases. The condition however disappears when one has delivered (LeRoith et al., 2004). Gestational diabetes is majorly associated with blacks, Hispanic Americans, Americans Indians and those with a family background of diabetes. Obese pregnant women face a higher risk of having the condition. According to the research done, it was noted that women who have previously suffered from gestational diabetes are more prone of having type 2 Diabetes later in their lives. This accounts for 40 percent of women who suffered from gestational diabetes (Kim et al. 2002). Conclusion Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease that burdens the family of those diagnosed with it since it is very expensive in treating and requires special care. Type 2 diabetes can be avoided by regularly exercising and avoiding being obese. Providing information on the symptoms and management of diabetes mellitus can help in reducing the number of people suffering and dying due to the disease. This step will help in promoting early diagnosis and skills on how to manage and avoid the disease. References Cefalu, W.T. (2000). Medical Management of Diabetes Mellitus. CRC press. Chandalia, H. B., Das, A. K., & Research Society for the Study of Diabetes in India. (2012). RSSDI textbook of diabetes mellitus. New Delhi: Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers. Diabetes Research and Statistics. (2012, February 16). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved June 11, 2014, from http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/consumer/research.htm Jabbour, S & Stephens, A.E. (2013).Type1 Diabetes in Adults: Principles and Practice. CRC press. 170-175 Kim, C., Newton, K. M., & Knopp, R. H. (2002). Gestational Diabetes and the Incidence of Type 2 Diabetes A systematic review. Diabetes care, 25(10), 1862-1868. LeRoith, D., Taylor,S.I. &Olefsky,J.M.(2004).Diabetes Mellitus: A Fundamental and Clinical Text. Medical. P. 1540. Levy, D.(2011).Type 1 Diabetes. Oxford University press. 20 (2). 172-175 2011 National Diabetes Fact Sheet. (2013, October 25). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved June 10, 2014, from hhttp://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/pubs/estimates11.htm Read More