COMPLICATIONS OF DIABETES

Complications of Diabetes

Complications of Diabetes

Introduction

Diabetes is a disease in which the body doesn't produce or properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is produced by specialized cells (beta cells) of the pancreas. (The pancreas is a deep-seated organ in the abdomen located behind the stomach.) Insulin is needed to turn sugar and other food into energy. In this report we shall be discussing a diabetic nurse who is under training, how she shall be taking care of herself and what steps shall be taken (Chin, 2005).

Discussion

In addition to helping glucose (which is the simple sugar that serves as the chief source of energy in the body) enter the cells; insulin is also important in tightly regulating the level of glucose in the blood. After a meal, the blood glucose level rises (Grover, 2007). In reply to the augmented glucose height, the pancreas usually releases more insulin into the bloodstream to facilitate glucose go into the cells in addition to lower blood glucose levels following a meal (Almbrand, 2007). When the blood glucose levels are subordinated, the insulin let go from the pancreas is turned down. There are three types of diabetes Type (2) two, Type (1) one, and Gestational Diabetes (Allicar, 2006).

First, diabetes mellitus type (2) two is a metabolic disorder that is primarily described by insulin resistance, which is a condition in which normal amounts of insulin are insufficient to produce a normal insulin response from fat, muscle and liver cells (Grover, 2007).

It is often managed by engaging in exercise and adjusting one's diet. Diabetes mellitus type (2) is often associated with obesity (a condition in which the natural energy reserve, stored in the fatty tissue of humans), hypertension (high blood pressure), and elevated cholesterol (high amount of a lipid found in the cell membranes of all tissues) (Almbrand, 2007).

Second, Type (1)one diabetes is an autoimmune disorder in which the body's own immune system attacks the beta cells in the Islets of Langerhans of the pancreas, destroying them or damaging them sufficiently to reduce and eventually eliminate insulin production (Chin, 2005). Lacking enough insulin, glucose builds up in the bloodstream in its place of going into the cells. The body is powerless to exercise this glucose for energy although high heights in the bloodstream (Grover, 2007). This leads to improved hunger (Carpentier, 2005).

In addition, the high level of glucose in the blood causes the patient to urinate more, which in turn causes excessive thirst. Type (1) one is lethal unless treatment with insulin via injections replaces the missing hormone. Within 5 to 10 years, the insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas are entirely damaged and the body can not longer manufacture insulin. Type (1) one diabetes tends to occur in young, lean individuals, usually before 30 years of age, but, older patients do present with this form of diabetes on occasion (Allenet, 2005). This is referred to as latent autoimmune diabetes in adults ...