Diabetes Management in General Practice - Essay Example

The human race has continued to face a number of chronic and life-threatening conditions. These include diseases such as diabetes mellitus. The disease has been identified to be of two types, one of which is associated with a lack of insulin, this is called diabetes mellitus type 1. The other type that will form the center of focus in this essay is type 2 diabetes mellitus, also called non-insulin-dependent diabetes. The disease has often been associated with old age. Type 2 diabetes mellitus is characterized as a metabolic disorder, the pancreas produces some insulin but the hormone is unable to control the glucose levels in the blood. The insulin receptors are unresponsive, a factor that is contributed by genetic predisposition and lifestyle (Spiegel & Hawkins, 2012). Type 2 is the more predominant in the population compared to type 1. The disease can be life-threatening if not managed well; however, good management can result in relatively better living.

            Type 2 diabetes is accompanied by several symptoms. The body is unable to conserve water, a condition that results in polyuria. Because of the uncontrolled sugar levels, high blood sugar results, the individual exhibits a state of reduced consciousness and low blood pressure. In addition, the person produces sugary urine. This situation prompts an individual to develop increased thirst a condition called polydipsia. The disease is also associated with blurred vision, peripheral neuropathy, increased hunger, and gradual weight increase among others. Early detection is very essential for the effective management of the disease. Other signs and symptoms that have been identified to accompany the disease include a state of tiredness and lethargy, very slow healing of wounds and cuts, swinging moods, a feeling of dizziness, and sometimes headaches (Spiegel & Hawkins, 2012).

            The management of diabetes requires the effort of individuals, relatives, friends, and health practitioners. Individual effort is very important; being associated with the lifestyle the patient should engage in exercise and work on reducing their body weight. In addition, they should manage their diet by avoiding fatty and sugary food that is linked with the worsening of the condition. They are also obliged to avoid smoking and take every prescription faithfully. For low-level production of insulin, the patient can be prescribed to take insulin in order to control insulin levels (Diabetes Australia, 2013).

            No known cure has been developed for Diabetes type 2. However, some medication is given to reduce the levels of the disease symptoms. Five main classes of drugs have been developed. Firstly, the biguanides are insulin tablets that are helpful in reducing the levels of glucose through reducing the levels of stored glucose, increasing insulin sensitivity, and reducing the intestinal absorption of glucose. The second category is thiazolidinediones, these are also insulin tablets that target the patients’ insulin and activate it. These drugs have been known to target fat and muscle cells. Meglitinides and sulphonylureas are given to patients to stimulate the production of insulin by the pancreas hence helping reduce blood sugar levels. The alpha-glucosidase inhibitor prevents the digestion and absorption of most of the carbohydrates in the stomach and intestines (Diabetes Australia, 2013).

            Medical practitioners are required to understand the dynamics of the disease in order to combat it effectively. Regular follow-up visits should be done, during the time which the nurse should discourage the patient from smoking, their blood pressure is checked, their weight, a review of the symptoms is done as well as a review of self-monitoring. This review should be done quarterly. Annually, the nurse in charge should conduct a more thorough assessment by checking for any complications, reviewing the goals of management, considering a referral to a specialist, and updating the immunization schedule. During these periods, should conduct a full physical assessment; check on immunizations, conduct investigations and appropriate referrals should be done. To facilitate a systematic approach the medical practitioner should have a disease register, a well-designed recall system, flow charts, and review charts (Diabetes Australia, 2013).

            Type 2 diabetes has been linked with obese children and old age. Various bodies have been established to combat the disease, in the United States of America, the American Diabetes Research Foundation has been at the forefront in facilitating research in diabetes. Other international bodies such as the Diabetes UK Funded Research have complemented the efforts. The focus is care and treatment, the causes of the disease, and prevention and care of the disease. Despite the lack of a permanent solution to the disease, research has shown consistencies in the management of the disease. New diagnostic tools have been developed as well as management has been facilitated by the breakthrough in understanding the dynamics of the disease.

Recent research findings have brought into light a lot of information about diabetes. It is estimated that approximately 25.8 million Americans have diabetes of which 10.9 million are older people aged over sixty-five years. This research dispels some of the common myths against the disease.