Diabetes type 2 as a pathological condition - Research Paper Example

 Diabetes type 2 as a pathological condition Introduction The proper functioning of the human body is based upon the coordination and regulation ofthe different systems of the body. Hormones are important chemical substances that maintain and regulate the activities of the human body. Alterations in the normal functioning of hormones can result in severe consequences and disturbances in the normal bodily functions. Insulin is an important hormone of the human body that performs many vital functions. Insulin is secreted by the beta cells of the pancreas. The functions of insulin mainly include the metabolism of the body fuels which are carbohydrates, proteins and lipids. The most important role of insulin is directed towards the maintenance of normal glucose levels in the blood. Insulin works towards the movement of glucose into the muscles as well as the adipose tissue. It increases the conversion of glucose to glycogen and therefore, maintains the levels of glucose in the blood. Insulin is mainly an anabolic hormone and it also promotes the formation of fatty acids and triglycerides. It functions in a similar manner by increasing the production of proteins. These functions of insulin become greatly disturbed in type 2 diabetes. The functions of insulin are not carried out in the body in diabetes type 2 and if this condition persists for a long time, it results in pathologies of the eye, kidneys, cardiovascular system and the central nervous system. Diabetes type 2 is a pathological condition which is referred to as a syndrome owing to the fact that it affects most of the important systems of the human body. Diabetes mellitus is defined as “a clinical syndrome characterized by hyperglycemia due to absolute or relative deficiency of insulin.” The condition has turned into a matter of global concern owing to the alarming increase in the statistics of the condition as well as the burden of the high costs on the healthcare system for the treatment of this condition. This paper will serve to analyze all the important aspects of diabetes mellitus which include its causes, risk factors, sign and symptoms as well as the treatment. The paper will further explain the association of the condition with socio-economic status, nutrition and the health of the individual (Colledge et al 2010). Epidemiology There has been a global surge in the number of people who suffer from diabetes. According to statistics provided by the World Health Organization, in the year 2000, there were 171 million who were suffering from diabetes mellitus around the world. Furthermore, the World Health Organization put forward the fact that by the year 2030, the number would rise to as high as 366 million across the globe. The International Diabetes Federation Atlas put forward a slight variation in the figures. According to their calculation, 246 million people had diabetes mellitus by the year 2007 and by the year 2025, this figure would rise up to as high as 380 million (Feinglos et al 2008). In the United States of America, approximately 16 million people suffer from diabetes. Furthermore, about 8 million of these cases are not diagnosed as diabetics. It has also been provided that an annual increase of 800,000 sufferers of diabetes persists in the country. Furthermore, 54,000 people lose their lives every year in the United States owing to the pathologies that result due to the development of diabetes. According to studies in the year 2000 in the United States, the risk amongst males for the development of diabetes mellitus was 1 out of every 3 males and the risk amongst the females was 2 out of 5. The prevalence of the condition is higher in Hispanic, African American and Native American groups. These statistics reveal the prevalence and the severity of the issue in the United States (Kumar et al 2005). In the United Kingdom, 4 percent of the population is affected by diabetes mellitus. The statistics are higher in the Middle East and the Far East. Its persistence is known to be as high as 12 percent in the cities of the Indian subcontinent (Colledge et al 2010). Causes Type 2 Diabetes is classified as the most common form of diabetes. Out of all the cases of diabetes, 80 to 90 percent of the cases suffer from type 2 diabetes. This condition results owing to the loss of action of insulin on the organs of the human body that is due to resistance to insulin action. This is accompanied with a reduction in the secretion of insulin from the pancreas. The constellation of these two actions results in the development of type 2 diabetes. The irresponsiveness of the organs to insulin is the first event to occur in type 2 diabetes. This is then accompanied with the loss of proper secretion of insulin. The resistance of insulin in the organs results in the loss of movement of glucose into the muscles as well as the adipose tissue. This is accompanied by alteration in the metabolism of glucose. There is reduction in the capacity of glucose storing owing to the lack of conversion of non-glucose substrates into glycogen. This lack of proper metabolism of glucose leads to high levels of glucose in the blood. This is accompanied with high levels of insulin in the blood as well. The activity of the beta cells of the pancreas becomes disturbed owing to these altered levels of insulin and glucose in the blood. The high levels of glucose in the blood promote the continuous secretion of insulin by the pancreas in the initial phase of diabetes. This secretion results in the hyperplasia of the beta cells. This serves to maintain the glucose levels in the body for a few years. But eventually the pattern of insulin secretion does not remain normal. Furthermore, the beta cells also start decreasing owing to the inability to compensate for the high levels of insulin due to the resistance offered by the organs. This results in the reduction of the secretion of insulin by the beta cells of the pancreas (Kumar et al 2005). Risk Factors There are many risk factors associated with the causation of diabetes. Obesity is one of the most important risk factor. Unhealthy living styles which include an unhealthy diet which is rich in fats as well as a living pattern with minimal physical exercise also raise the risk of diabetes. Genetics are also considered to raise the risk of diabetes type 2 and it is seen that a person is at a high risk of suffering from diabetes if he has a first degree relative suffering from the condition. Raised blood pressure, altered blood lipids and polycystic ovarian syndrome are other risk factors for the condition (Carr et al 2003; McGuire et al 2009). Signs and Symptoms There are different signs and symptoms of diabetes type 2. The patient feels thirstier and the regularity of urination also increases. The patient may feel tired and less energetic than normal. Sudden alterations in weight may also be seen with some patients reporting reduction in their weight while others may present with increased weight. The vision of the person may also be affected and the patient may complain of blurring. Diabetes raises the risk of infections and patients may report of having regular infections. Owing to the neuropathy, patients may complain of altered sensations on the distal part of their limbs (Hales 2006). Diabetes and Health Diabetes mellitus is termed as a syndrome as it alters the functioning of the other organs of the human body and it is the cause of other pathologies amongst the patients. The complications associated with the disease are due to the macrovascular changes that mainly occur in the large as well as the medium vessels of the muscles in the human body. Microvascular disease is also an underlying reason for the health impact of diabetes. Microvascular disease tends to alter the structure and functioning of capillaries that supply organs. The macrovascular changes occurring in diabetes result in affecting the heart as well as the vascular supply of distal parts of the limbs. The process of atherosclerosis becomes fast in the diabetic patients and this can lead to cause myocardial infarction as well as stroke in these patients. Furthermore, disruption in the continuity of supply to the distal areas of the limbs can cause extremity gangrene in the diabetic patients. The changes in the capillaries are associated with pathologies of the kidneys, eyes as well as the nervous system. The central and the peripheral nerves become affected owing to microvascular disease. The disruption in the capillaries of the eye can result in conditions like glaucoma and cataract. The most common impact on the eye is the resultant retinopathy. Diabetes has been labeled to be the most common cause of blindness in the West as well. The functioning of the kidneys is also affected and uncontrolled diabetes is considered to be a major cause of severe renal disease in the developed countries (Kumar et al 2005). Tests Diagnostic tests for diabetes type 2 include urine as well as blood tests. The blood is checked for fasting blood sugar as well as random blood sugar to assess the level of glucose in the blood. Glycated hemoglobin is also tested and this test serves to provide for the average level of glucose for the last two months. Blood lipids are also tested owing to the alteration in the lipid metabolism in diabetes type 2. Urine tests for diabetes type 2 include the testing for the presence of glucose, albumin as well as ketones in the urine sample. Oral Glucose Tolerance Test is also performed for the group of patients who are suspected of having diabetes but the diagnosis cannot be confirmed on the basis of the blood glucose levels (Colledge et al 2010). Diabetes Type 2 and Nutrition Nutritional factors have been associated with the causation of diabetes type 2. This has been upheld by different researches as well as studies. Thus, the correction of diet is considered to be important for the management of diabetes type 2. A study that was conducted by Rob Van Dam and his colleagues in the year 2002 explained the link between nutritional choices and diabetes type 2. There were 42504 males between the ages of 40 to 75 years who participated in the study. Two types of nutritional choices were identified and used. One was the “prudent” diet which consisted of greater amounts of vegetables, fruits, fish, unrefined grains and healthy dairy products. The other form of diet was labeled as “western”. This diet comprised of higher amounts of “red meat, processed meat, French fries, high-fat dairy products, refined grains, and sweets and desserts.” The study was conducted over a 12 year period and it was analyzed that a lower chance of the development of diabetes type 2 was associated with a “prudent” diet. This was not true for the “western” diet and this form of diet was linked with a greater risk for the development of diabetes type 2 (van et al 2002). Another study was conducted by Schulze et al which put forward the fact that inflammation was associated with the causation of diabetes and certain forms of diet promote this inflammatory process. The study was based mainly on findings from female participants and it highlighted the fact that cold drinks that were sweet or diet, coffee, processed meat and grains as well as a few vegetables which included cruciferous and yellow vegetables provided for greater chances for the development of diabetes owing to the initiation of inflammation (Schulze et al 2005). Other nutritive factors have also been seen to raise the chances of diabetes. A diet which has low fiber content provides for a risk of diabetes. Furthermore, higher consumption of trans-fatty acids and increased intake of alcohol are also factors that raise the risk of having diabetes (Parillo et al 2004). Socio-Economic Status and Diabetes Studies have highlighted the correlation between the occurrence of diabetes and the socioeconomic status of an individual. Different researches have explained the association between diabetes and socioeconomic status of the people in different parts of the world. In the United States of America, a study was conducted amongst the Hispanics residing in Los Angeles in 2003. The study put forward the fact that diabetes was more common in the people who lived on earnings beyond the poverty line of the country. Another study was conducted in the country amongst females in the year 2002. The study provided similar results that showed that women who belonged to the lower socioeconomic groups had a higher susceptibility of having diabetes (World Health Organization 2007). Similar findings were reported in a research that was carried out in northern England. It highlighted the fact that the lower socioeconomic groups in this region had a 30 percent higher risk of suffering from diabetes than the people belonging to better social statuses. This was also seen in a study in Scotland where it was seen that 60 percent of the people from the lower socioeconomic groups had a susceptibility of having diabetes (Feinglos et al 2008). This correlation is different in the developing nations of the globe where it is seen that diabetes type 2 is more common amongst the higher socioeconomic groups. A research that was conducted in South India upheld these results. According to the research, people belonging to the higher socioeconomic groups had double the risk of having diabetes in comparison to the lower socioeconomic groups. This difference is owing to a few reasons. In the developed nations, the dietary patterns are unhealthy for the lower socioeconomic groups. Furthermore, they cannot afford to attain the best healthcare treatment owing to the costs. On the other hand, in developing countries, the low socioeconomic groups are basically the labor class who work manually and are involved in physical work. Furthermore, they consume vegetables and fruits in their diet owing to their living in agricultural areas. They do not have access to the western diet owing to the high cost of this form of diet. Thus, the risk of diabetes is different in the developed and the developing nations according to the classification of socioeconomic status (Feinglos et al 2008). Treatment Managing Your Blood Sugar, Diet and Weight Control The living patterns as well as the diet of an individual have an influence on the occurrence of diabetes. Therefore, the management of the condition requires correction of these. The aim of treatment is the maintenance of the blood sugar within normal limits. The amount of glucose is to be kept within the normal range. Increased weight and a sedentary lifestyle promote diabetes. Therefore, exercise and physical activities are encouraged amongst the diabetics so that their weight remains maintained. The American Diabetes Association has provided for a set of advice for the correction of diabetes. These include the intake of carbohydrate from healthy food sources which include fruits, vegetables, and unrefined grains as well as milk that is not high in fat. A high fiber diet is also recommended. Cholesterol intake is to be reduced as well and fish should be included in the diet of a person (McGuire et al 2009). Medications to Treat Diabetes Insulin preparations as well as oral hypoglycemic medications are given for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. The oral hypoglycemic medications include sulfonylureas, biguanides, thiazolidinediones and alpha glucosidase inhibitors. Sulfonylureas promote increased production of insulin from the beta cells of the pancreas. The biguanides and thiazolidinediones function to reduce the resistance provided to insulin by the target organs. The administration of alpha glucosidase inhibitors results in reduced absorption of glucose from the gastrointestinal tract. References Carr, P. L., Ricciotti, H. A., Freund, K., & Kahan, S. (2003). In a page, OB/GYN & women's health. Malden, MA: Blackwell Pub. Colledge, N. R., Davidson, L. S. P., Ralston, S. H., & Walker, B. R. (2010). Davidson's principles and practice of medicine. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone/Elsevier. Feinglos, M. N., & Bethel, M. A. (2008). Type 2 diabetes mellitus: An evidence-based approach to practical management. Totowa, NJ: Humana Press. Hales, D. R. (2006). An invitation to health. Australia: Thomson/Wadsworth. Kumar, V., Abbas, A. K., Fausto, N., Robbins, S. L., & Cotran, R. S. (2005). Robbins and Cotran pathologic basis of disease. Philadelphia: Elsevier Saunders. McGuire, M., & Beerman, K. A. (2009). Nutritional sciences: From fundamentals to food. Belmont, Calif: Wadsworth Cengage Learning. Parillo, M., & Riccardi, G. (January 01, 2004). Diet composition and the risk of type 2 diabetes: epidemiological and clinical evidence. The British Journal of Nutrition, 92, 1, 7-19. Schulze, M. B., Hoffmann, K., Manson, J. E., Willett, W. C., Meigs, J. B., Weikert, C., Heidemann, C., ... Hu, F. B. (January 01, 2005). 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