The Complications of Type Two Diabetes - Term Paper Example

Running head: Diabetes Type 2 Diabetes Type 2 Diabetes is the most common form of diabetes which creates problems to millions of people worldwide. It affects critical body parts and causes serious health problems to the patient. Type 2 Diabetics can lead towards so many other diseases as well. Lack of physical workouts, changing life styles and food habits are some of the major reasons for type 2 Diabetics. Lack of production of insulin by the body or lack of recognition of insulin produced by the body by the cells is some of the reasons for type 2 Diabetics. Taking insulin in the form of injections or oral medications are the possible treatments available for type 2 Diabetics. This paper briefly explains type 2 Diabetics, its, causes, symptoms, consequences and possible treatments. Introduction “Every day, more than 4,000 adults are diagnosed with diabetes and about 200 people die from the disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention” (Payne, 2009). Millions of people across the world are currently suffering from type 2 Diabetics. Many people are unaware that they are at high risk of this disease. National Diabetes Statistics, (2007) shows that in adults, type 2 diabetes accounts for about 90 to 95 percent of all diagnosed cases of diabetes and moreover the Total costs of treating type 2 diabetics patients in America is around $174 billion in 2007 which include the direct cost of $116 billion (National Diabetes Statistics, 2007) Source: 2004–2006 National Health Interview Survey. (National Diabetes Statistics, 2007) From the above chart it is clear that most of the type 2 diabetics patients are currently undergoing treatments either in the form of insulin, oral medication or both insulin and oral medications. Obesity, family history of diabetes, lack of physical activities, peculiarities of race/ethnicity etc are some of the major reasons for type 2 diabetics. Even though type 2 diabetics can affect any people irrespective age, culture or ethnicity, African Americans, Hispanic/Latino Americans, American Indians, and some Asian Americans and Native Hawaiians or other Pacific Islanders are found to be more vulnerable to this disease. Definition and history of type 2 diabetics National Diabetes Statistics, (2007) has pointed out that type 2 diabetics were earlier mentioned as non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) or adult-onset diabetics (National Diabetes Statistics, 2007). Diabetics in general are a group of disease which is resulted from the malfunctioning of insulin production, usage or both. Type 2 diabetics are a disease which occurred when the body resists the effects of insulin produces less insulin than required to maintain the glucose level. Glucose is the major fuel which drives the body. The increased need for insulin and the decreased ability of the body to produce it finally will affect the abilities of pancreas to produce insulin. Internal body parts affected by type 2 Diabetics Type 2 diabetics’ is a lifelong disease which cannot be completely avoided with the help of medications. The patient can reduce the complications associated with it by using medicines. Insulin is a hormone which derives energy needed for the body from the glucose. In the absence of insulin, glucose will not be converted into energy and it will accumulate in our body and affect our internal body parts. Eyes, heart, blood vessels, nerves, and kidneys are the major body parts which are affected by type 2 diabetics. (Rea, RN, BS, MS, 2007) Complications Source: SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth Study. NHW=Non-Hispanic Whites; AA=African Americans; H=Hispanics; API=Asians/Pacific Islanders; AI=American Indians (National Diabetes Statistics, 2007) Diabetes can lead to serious complications, such as blindness, kidney damage, cardiovascular disease, and lower-limb amputations (National Diabetes Statistics, 2007). Type 2 diabetics can affect the eye sight partly or completely. The eye cells will be destroyed in the absence of proper energy supplement to it. Kidney is responsible for purifying the blood in our body. Kidney failures can lead to the accumulation of impure blood in our body and the only way to purify it is by changing of blood frequently (dialysis). Type 2 diabetics can affect the functioning of the heart also. In fact many of the heart patients have the type 2 diabetics also. Another major complication associated with type 2 diabetics is the loss of our body’s abilities to cure injuries. For example, injuries caused to legs or toes can develop infections around the injured area and it can spread to other parts of the body as well. In extreme cases, doctors would be forced to remove such infectious organs in order to save the life of the patient. Misconceptions about type 2 Diabetics Payne, (2009) has cited many misconceptions about type 2 diabetics. Many people believe that diabetics’ is not a serious disease. In fact diabetics account for more deaths than cancer or HIV. Another belief about diabetics is that too much intakes of sugar can cause diabetics. Even though, too much sugar consumption definitely causes health problems, it is not necessary that all the people who take more sugar may develop type 2 diabetics. Many people believe that overweight is the major reason for type 2 diabetics. But in reality overweight alone may not cause type 2 diabetics. Many diabetics’ patients think that they need to eat totally different foods compared to normal people. But in reality, controlled food habits are necessary for the patients instead of the complete avoidance of certain foods. Some people believe that all the diabetics patients need insulin. But in reality apart from the chronic diabetics’ patients, nobody needs medications. Controlled diet and physical workouts can eliminate the need of insulin. One of the common beliefs about diabetics is that it will affect only the older generation. But people are vulnerable to diabetics even from the birth onwards (Payne, 2009). Symptoms Increased thirst, Increased hunger (especially after eating), Dry mouth, Frequent urination, Unexplained weight loss (even though you are eating and feel hungry), Fatigue (weak, tired feeling), Blurred vision, Headaches, Loss of consciousness etc are some of the major symptoms of type 2 diabetics (WebMD, 2010) Most of the symptoms associated with type 2 diabetics are simple so that nobody will care about it. For example, increased thirst or dry mouth may not be taken seriously by people. They may feel that such symptoms are quiet normal and it has nothing to do with any disease. Diagnosis As mentioned earlier, most of the symptoms associated with type 2 diabetics are simple and most of the people will not seek the advice of doctors for that. In many cases, the diabetics’ is diagnosed accidently when people approach the hospital for some other diseases. Doctors normally conduct a blood check up whenever they are in doubt in order to check the sugar level in blood. Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) test (Measures blood glucose in a person who has not eaten anything for at least 8 hours), oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) (Measures blood glucose after a person fasts at least 8 hours and 2 hours after the person drinks a glucose-containing beverage) and random plasma glucose test, (Measures blood glucose without regard to when the person being tested last ate) are the common diagnosis test conducted by doctors to find out type 2 diabetics (National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse, n. d) Prevention and treatment As explained earlier, diabetics are caused by the increased sugar level in blood. So, persons who are vulnerable to diabetics, or having family history of diabetics should adjust their food habits in order to prevent diabetics. Food items which contain high level of sugar should be limited. Along with food control, daily workouts are also essential in order to burn out the excess sugar levels in our body. Losing of overweight and taking oral medications can prevent type 2 diabetics. Appendix 1 given below of this paper explains the body mass index (BMI). In extreme cases, insulin injections might be need for chronic patients. National Diabetes Statistics, (2007) has mentioned that people with pre-diabetes who lose weight and increase their physical activity can prevent or delay diabetes and even return their blood glucose levels to normal (National Diabetes Statistics, 2007) Conclusions Type 2 diabetics’ is a chronic disease which can be controlled or prevented if some adjustments are done in the life styles and food habits. People who are vulnerable to type 2 diabetics must take precautions in order to prevent it. Diabetics can lead the patients to many complications like loss of eye sight, defective heart functioning, fatigue, headaches, removal of body parts due to infections etc. If treated properly, diabetics can be controlled, if not remove it completely. References 1. National Diabetes Statistics, (2007), What is diabetes?, Retrieved on 10 February 2010 from http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/DM/PUBS/statistics/ 2. National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse, (n. d), Diagnosis of Diabetes, Retrieved on 10 February 2010 http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/diagnosis/ 3. Payne January W. (2009), 6 Common Myths and Misconceptions About Diabetes, Retrieved on 10 February 2010 from http://www.usnews.com/health/family-health/diabetes/articles/2009/11/05/6-common-myths-and-misconceptions-about-diabetes.html 4. Rea Caroline, RN, BS, MS (2007), Type 2 Diabetes: Living With Complications, Retrieved on 10 February 2010 from http://www.peacehealth.org/KBASE/topic/special/uq1117/sec1.htm 5. WebMD,(2010), Symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes, Retrieved on 10 February 2010 from http://diabetes.webmd.com/guide/diabetes-warning-signs Appendix Body Mass Index Table 1   Normal Overweight Obese BMI 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 Height (inches) Body Weight (pounds) 58 91 96 100 105 110 115 119 124 129 134 138 143 148 153 158 162 167 59 94 99 104 109 114 119 124 128 133 138 143 148 153 158 163 168 173 60 97 102 107 112 118 123 128 133 138 143 148 153 158 163 168 174 179 61 100 106 111 116 122 127 132 137 143 148 153 158 164 169 174 180 185 62 104 109 115 120 126 131 136 142 147 153 158 164 169 175 180 186 191 63 107 113 118 124 130 135 141 146 152 158 163 169 175 180 186 191 197 64 110 116 122 128 134 140 145 151 157 163 169 174 180 186 192 197 204 65 114 120 126 132 138 144 150 156 162 168 174 180 186 192 198 204 210 66 118 124 130 136 142 148 155 161 167 173 179 186 192 198 204 210 216 67 121 127 134 140 146 153 159 166 172 178 185 191 198 204 211 217 223 68 125 131 138 144 151 158 164 171 177 184 190 197 203 210 216 223 230 69 128 135 142 149 155 162 169 176 182 189 196 203 209 216 223 230 236 70 132 139 146 153 160 167 174 181 188 195 202 209 216 222 229 236 243 71 136 143 150 157 165 172 179 186 193 200 208 215 222 229 236 243 250 72 140 147 154 162 169 177 184 191 199 206 213 221 228 235 242 250 258 73 144 151 159 166 174 182 189 197 204 212 219 227 235 242 250 257 265 74 148 155 163 171 179 186 194 202 210 218 225 233 241 249 256 264 272 75 152 160 168 176 184 192 200 208 216 224 232 240 248 256 264 272 279 76 156 164 172 180 189 197 205 213 221 230 238 246 254 263 271 279 287   Body Mass Index Table 2   Obese Extreme Obesity BMI 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 Height (inches) Body Weight (pounds) 58 172 177 181 186 191 196 201 205 210 215 220 224 229 234 239 244 248 253 258 59 178 183 188 193 198 203 208 212 217 222 227 232 237 242 247 252 257 262 267 60 184 189 194 199 204 209 215 220 225 230 235 240 245 250 255 261 266 271 276 61 190 195 201 206 211 217 222 227 232 238 243 248 254 259 264 269 275 280 285 62 196 202 207 213 218 224 229 235 240 246 251 256 262 267 273 278 284 289 295 63 203 208 214 220 225 231 237 242 248 254 259 265 270 278 282 287 293 299 304 64 209 215 221 227 232 238 244 250 256 262 267 273 279 285 291 296 302 308 314 65 216 222 228 234 240 246 252 258 264 270 276 282 288 294 300 306 312 318 324 66 223 229 235 241 247 253 260 266 272 278 284 291 297 303 309 315 322 328 334 67 230 236 242 249 255 261 268 274 280 287 293 299 306 312 319 325 331 338 344 68 236 243 249 256 262 269 276 282 289 295 302 308 315 322 328 335 341 348 354 69 243 250 257 263 270 277 284 291 297 304 311 318 324 331 338 345 351 358 365 70 250 257 264 271 278 285 292 299 306 313 320 327 334 341 348 355 362 369 376 71 257 265 272 279 286 293 301 308 315 322 329 338 343 351 358 365 372 379 386 72 265 272 279 287 294 302 309 316 324 331 338 346 353 361 368 375 383 390 397 73 272 280 288 295 302 310 318 325 333 340 348 355 363 371 378 386 393 401 408 74 280 287 295 303 311 319 326 334 342 350 358 365 373 381 389 396 404 412 420 75 287 295 303 311 319 327 335 343 351 359 367 375 383 391 399 407 415 423 431 76 295 304 312 320 328 336 344 353 361 369 377 385 394 402 410 418 426 435 443 (National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse, n. d) Read More