In diabetes, there is either not enough insulin or plenty of nonusable insulin. Type I diabetes accounts for 5 to 10% of all children and young adults who are …
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This months issue of Health in Our Hands recognizes diabetes month
Diabetes Mellitus
Diabetes Mellitus or diabetes is the sixth leading cause of death in
the United States It affects 17 million people; 111 million are
diagnosed with the disorder and 59 million are unaware they have the
endocrine disease This chronic systemic disorder affects minorities more
than whites
In diabetes, there is a high level of blood glucose There is also a
deficit in insulin production where either not enough insulin is produced,
or the insulin that is produced is not utilized effectively
To understand blood glucose and insulin, it is pertinent to review
what happens when food is ingested The glucose, or sugar, in this food is
used by the cells for energy Insulin, which is produced in the pancreas,
carries glucose into the cells In diabetes, there is either not enough
insulin or plenty of nonusable insulin In either case, insulin becomes
impaired in performing its function carrying glucose to cells Since
glucose is not transported to cells, glucose
takes another route to impact
other structures Glucose can either accumulate in the blood or be
excreted The accumulation of glucose in the blood causes major damage to
vital organs
Diabetes Mellitus
Types of Diabetes Mellitus
There are two major types of diabetes: Type I and Type II diabetes
Type I diabetes is also known as insulin
dependent diabetes mellitus or juvenile onset Type II diabetes is known
as noninsulin dependent diabetes mellitus or adult onset
In Type I diabetes, the immune system attacks the pancreatic cells
that produce insulin, and there is a decrease in the production of insulin
As a result of diminished insulin, insulin injections must be taken
several times a day or insulin pumps must be administered Type I diabetes
accounts for 5 to 10 of all children and young adults who are diagnosed
with diabetes These children and young adults who are affected appear to
be thin or of normal weight Their physical appearance is the result of
burning fat for energy instead of utilizing glucose for energy
In Type II diabetes, there is a gradual onset of the condition It
accounts for 90-95 of all diagnosed cases and is the result of
insulin
resistance There is either an interruption of normal insulin action or a
reduction of insulin secretion Insulin fails to bind to receptors on
cells; as a result, glucose cannot be transported into the cells Type II
diabetes usually affects individuals 40 and older These individuals
appear overweight
Symptoms
Symptoms for Type I and Type II diabetes include:
frequent urination
excessive thirst
hunger
weight loss
visual changes, such as blurred vision
foot pain
infections
extreme fatigue
tingling or numbness of hands and feet
dry skin
slow healing of sores
gynecological problems
impotence
nerve damage
Risk Factors
There are several risk factors:
autoimmunity
genetic
environmental, such as viral
infections and chemicals
obesity
race/ethnicity
physical inactivity
impaired glucose tolerance
prior history of glucose
intolerance during pregnancy
Diagnosis
Several methods are used to diagnose diabetes One method is the
fasting plasma glucose test A value of 126 mg/dL or higher is a critical
value
Another test, nonfasting plasma
glucose, is used Action should be taken if the test value is 200 mg/dL or
higher and the person is having
symptoms An oral glucose tolerance test can also be used A consecutive
value of 200 mg/dL or higher may indicate diabetes Because one test is
not always indicative of diabetes, several tests should be done to confirm
a diabetic condition
Complications
If diabetes is not managed properly, complications can result
Complications may include:
heart disease
blindness
amputations
stroke
kidney disease
dental disease
high blood pressure
nervous system damage
pregnancy complications
deaths related to flu and pneumonia
blindness
Treatment
There is no cure for diabetes; therefore, it is paramount that
diabetics receive proper treatment Even though treatment varies with each
type of diabetes, treatment guidelines for both types of diabetes stress
proper education of the disorder, exercise, and good nutrition The
following list of things can be done to treat Type I diabetes: using
insulin injections or insulin pumps Several actions can be taken to treat
Type II diabetes, such
as taking oral medications, injecting insulin,
controlling blood glucose levels, and reducing weight
It is important that diabetics comply with treatment regime by
monitoring their glucose levels because high levels of glucose can impair
wound healing and increase capillary thickness If glucose adheres to the
protein, collagen is comprised When this occurs, it is difficult for
collagen to lie down properly, and it loses its tensile strength This
hinders wound healing
Glucose circulating in the body results in capillary thickness
When capillaries thicken, blood cant flow properly Circulation is
decreased, and heart disease occurs prematurely
Nutrition
Nutrition is very important for treating both types of diabetes
Certain foods should be eaten while others should be avoided
Eat or take:
broiled foods
proteins, such as fish, chicken, and lean beef
carbohydrates, such as dried beans, peas, whole grain breads, cereal,
crackers, fruits, and vegetables
vitamins and minerals
Be moderate with:
fats
salt
sugar
alcohol
For more information
For more information on diabetes, visit the American Diabetes
Association
website at wwwdiabetesorg or the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention at wwwcdcgov
Sources for this newsletter include:
Blue and You The Enemy Within: Autoimmune Diseases Arkansas BlueCross
BlueShield Autumn 2002
Goodman, CC Boissonnault, WG Pathology: Implications for the
Physical Therapist A Harcourt Health Sciences Company: Philadelphia, PA
1998
Krall, LP Beaser, RS Joslin Diabetes Manual Lea Febiger:
Philadelphia, PA 1989
wwwdiabetesorg
wwwjoslinorg
wwwmercksourcecom
wwwniddknihgov
Special Brief
Diseases can result secondarily from diabetes One disease that is
often overlooked is osteoporosis, a disease characterized by an increased
loss of bone density Osteoporosis usually occurs within the first five
years after the onset of diabetes
Osteoporosis may occur secondarily to diabetes because of the abnormal
insulin levels circulating in the body Because of this, the bone matrix
may not form properly This leads to a decrease in bone density
In addition to the symptoms of diabetes, diabetics with osteoporosis
may suffer low back pain, neck pain, bone pain and tenderness, stooped
posture, or height loss
It is essential
for diabetics with osteoporosis to receive adequate
amounts of phosphorus, calcium, and Vitamin D in their diets Phosphorus
and calcium assists in bone formation If adequate amounts of calcium are
not taken from foods, the body will reabsorb calcium from bone This
reabsorption will reduce the likelihood of bone formation Vitamin D aids
in absorption of calcium If the body does not receive enough Vitamin D
via diet or sunlight, the absorption of calcium will also decrease
Calcium will then be reabsorbed from bone Again, bone formation will be
hindered
University News
The Student Health Center will be
offering flu vaccines on the following days:
Monday, November 4 from 1 until 3 in the Business administration room 105;
Tuesday, November 5 from 10 until 12 in the Dean Ellis Library main lobby
area; Wednesday, November 6 from 1 until 3 in the Physical Plant break
room; Thursday, November 7 from 9 until 11 in the Administration lobby; and
Friday, November 8 from 10 until 12 in the Green Room Nursing and Health
Professions Building
The Arkansas State University Employee Wellness Newsletter is
published monthly during the academic year by the
College of Nursing and
Health Professions Health questions can be addressed to Dean Susan
Hanrahan, Ph D, ext 3112 or hanrahan@astateedu
Produced by LaToya Nance, graduate student in the College of Nursing and
Health Professions, Physical Therapy Program
