Diabetes Mellitus - Research Paper Example

of the diseases Diabetes mellitus is a common metabolic disorder distinguished by hyperglycemia caused by the defects of either insulin secretion or insulin action. Hyperglycemia can be caused by combination of the two factors, insulin secretion and insulin action at the same time. The chronic hyperglycemia is the cause behind the severe damage or malfunction of a variety of organs in the body such as heart, kidneys, nerves, blood vessels and eyes. Hyperglycemia symbolizes the amount of excess sugar in the blood. The required amount of sugar in the blood is between 80 mg to 120 mg in every 100cc. However, if a dosage is given amounting to 50gm of sugar, the amount of sugar in blood rises to either 100mg or 130mg. The change in the amount of sugar after the dosage is absorbed for a short time, probably 30 minutes. The amount will then fall to a normal level. Though, the time of change varies depending on an individual. Sometimes the change occurs in between 60, 90 or 120 minutes. However, if the percentage of sugar does not fall to the original level after a specific time mostly 120 minutes, a person is said to have hyperglycemia condition or in other words diabetes mellitus (Diagnosis and Classification of Diabetes Mellitus, 2013). According to William et al. (2009), the disorder is characterized by both long term and short-term complications. Additionally, the authors explain that the causes of the disorder varies, it can either be infections or impairments of genes. There is different pathogenic possesses associated with growth of diabetes. Some of them are destruction of autoimmune beta cells of the pancreas that result to insulin deficit or resistance of insulin action. Additionally, the disturbance of fats, proteins and carbohydrates metabolism causing deficiency in action of insulin causes diabetes. The fact is that, the deficiency of insulin is caused by the insufficient secretion of insulin. Furthermore, the insufficiency can be because of poor response of tissues to insulin secretion. According to American Diabetes Association (2013), the destruction of the insulin secretion and the deficiency of the insulin action can be diagnosed on the same person making it difficult to ascertain the abnormality that causes hyperglycemia. The common symptoms of hyperglycemia are weight loss, polydipsia, blurred vision, and polyuria. However, polyphagia can sometimes be diagnosed as one of the symptoms. An individual can also be vulnerable to some infections. This is considered as a chronic hyperglycemia. Acute diabetes mellitus is regarded as hyperglycemia with ketoacidosis. It is also called nonketotic hyperosmolar syndrome. This kind of diabetes cannot be controlled hence it is regarded as a serious disorder. Body systems affected Continuous complication of diabetes causes retinopathy characterized by loss of vision. Nephropathy and peripheral neuropathy are some of the complications caused by long-term diabetes. The nephropathy is the leading cause of renal malfunction while peripheral neuropathy causes foot ulcers, charcot joints and amputation. Additionally, the complications are also the cause behind genitourinary, gastrointestinal, sexual dysfunctions and cardiovascular syndrome. However, the complication causing the above impairments is regarded as autonomic neurophathy. Increasing cases of atherosclerotic cardiovascular cerebrovascular diseases and peripheral arterial disease are common in patients with diabetes. However the common disorders on patients with diabetes are hypertension and deformities of lipoprotein metabolism. The disease affects various organs in the body as noted earlier above. Kidneys, blood vessels, eyes, nerves are some of the organs in the body mainly affected by the disorder. Diabetes is categorized into two based on etiopathogenetic state. The first category is type 1diabetes, while the second is type 2 diabetes. Insufficiency in insulin secretion is a source of Type 1 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is caused by both poor secretion of insulin and resistance of insulin action. Type 2 diabetes has the highest prevalence rate. Diagnosis of diabetes is done according to characteristics of hyperglycemia. The common terms that are currently accepted in classifications are type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus. This is done to differentiate between the major types of diabetes mellitus. Previous diagnosis of diabetes was confusing. However, with the help of World Health Organization (WHO), a diagnostic criterion for diabetes was availed. According to Holt (2004), World Health Organization with the help of National Diabetes Group modified the previous confusing criteria of diabetes between 1979 and 1985. Later, after the two organizations’ modification, a diagnostic criterion that emphasized on blood glucose concentration was planned by American Diabetes Association. This prompted WHO to make changes on the diagnostic criteria. Based on the diagnostic criterion by WHO in 1999, diabetes diagnosis was done when fasting blood glucose is above 7.0mmol/l or at that level. It can also be diagnosed when the level is 11.1mmol/l or when it exceeds. Patients thought to have diabetes symptoms goes through a single test. Asymptomatic patients have to undergo extra test (Holt 2004). Statistics of prevalence rate Deshpande et al. (2008), shows that approximately 20 million people have diabetes based on the research conducted in 2005. However, the numbers of undiagnosed persons in United States are 30% of the stated 20 million. The authors argue that there are causative factors associated with the development of diabetes. Some of them are; smoking, age, ethnicity, genes, family history relating to diabetes and obesity. The authors point out some of the complications caused by the disorders like kidney problems, blindness, cardiovascular disorder and amputation. The above noted complications are some of the increasing cause of mortality and morbidity among the population diagnosed with diabetes. Additionally, diagnosis, treatment and all the medical cost associated with diabetes is costly to the US economy. However, the advancement in technology has given chance to the people to leave longer after being diagnosed of the diseases. According to Deshpande et al. (2008), there will be 48.3 million diabetic people in United States in the year 2050. According to Holt (2004), reported cases of diabetes accounts for only 10% type 1 diabetes mellitus. According to the author, close to 20 million people across the planet are mainly the victims of type 1 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes mainly affects population of all age group. However, research shows that the majority of those affected mostly are of the age between 4 and 5. Increasing cases of type 1 diabetes has been witnessed in parts of Europe. The diseases is dominant among children of age group 15 years and they have increasing rate of 3.4%. However, there is a high prevalence rate among children of age group 5 and below. There is poor understanding to the cause of type 1 diabetes. However, researchers and physicians point out genes inherited from family as the cause. This is based on the research conducted on twins; it showed that one of the twins has 20 to 30% chances of developing type 1 diabetes. However, genetic factors are not the only cause of type 1 diabetes. According to Holt (2004), there are other environmental factors such as nutritional factors, viral infections, weight and age which can also cause type 1 diabetes mellitus. According to Holt (2004), type 2 diabetes mellitus accounts for 90% of all diabetic cases. Research conducted in UK according to Holt (2004), shows that 1.4 million people have type 2 diabetes. However, the persons undiagnosed with the type of disease are approximately 1 million. The analysis of types 2 diabetes shows that the prevalence rate increases with the increase in age. Holt (2004) studies show that the type of the disorder increase as an individual attains the age of 40. Research conducted by the World Health Organization shows that chances are high that the prevalence rate will double by the year 2030. The rate in the year 2000 was at 177 million, but in the year 2030 the number will increase to 370 million. But according to the recent research the current prevalence rate is alarming. There are approximately 374 million diabetic people in the world currently (Type 1 diabetes mellitus - Clinical review, 2013). According to Holt (2004), the prevalence rate of type 2 diabetes is high among adults in urban areas than in rural. This can be evidenced by the research conducted in China and Chile. The average prevalence rate in the two countries is 1% in rural areas. This is quite different as compared to urban areas that have high prevalence rate. Medication and treatment Development of diabetes mellitus has been attributed to changes in diet, lifestyle, obesity, and lack of physical activity. However, there are other factors associated such as genetic as noted earlier. Nicholson and Hall (2011), shows that treatment of diabetes mellitus can be achieved by controlling glycaemic. The fact is that, control of glycaemic reduces the complications of microvascular such as neuropathy, nephropathy, and retinopathy. Additionally, therapies such as change in diet and exercise increase chances of reduction of the disease. Research shows the changes in diet and engaging in physical activities reduces diabetic cases by approximately 31% to 58%. However, there are drugs that have been developed with the help of pathophysiology research of diabetes mellitus. Some of them are glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, thiazolidinediones, dipeptidyl peptidase-IV inhibitors and insulin analogues (Nicholson & Hall 2011). References Deshpande, A. D., Harris-Hayes, M., & Schootman, M. (2008). Epidemiology of Diabetes and Diabetes-related Complications. Physical Therapy, Vol.88(11), 1254-1264. Diagnosis and Classification of Diabetes Mellitus. (2013). Diabetes Care, Vol.36, 67-74. Herman, W., Kinmonth, A. L.,Wareham, N. & Williams, R. (2009). The Evidence Base for Diabetes Care, Evidence-Based Medicine. West Sussex, UK: John Wiley & Sons. Holt, R. I. G. (2004). Diagnosis, Epidemiology and Pathogenesis of Diabetes Mellitus: an Update for Psychiatrists. British Journal of Psychiatry, Vol.184 (47), 55-63. Nicholson, G. & Hall, G. M. (2011). Diabetes mellitus: new drugs for a new epidemic. British Journal of Anaesthesia, Vol.107 (1), Pp. 65–73. Type 1 diabetes mellitus - Clinical review. (2013). Consider the Aetiology of Diabetes when Diagnosing the Type and Deciding the Management. Retrieved from . Read More