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Presentation Physiology: Diabetes

Introduction
Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder that is as a result of the body producing
insufficient insulin or the body failing to react to the insulin produced (Bijlani and Manjunatha
54). Insulin is an essential component that the body requires for the digestion of glucose; failure
to which results in accumulation of blood sugar, which is hazardous to the human health.
Diabetes is always associated with high blood sugar levels in the body (Andrew 23). The high
blood sugar is characterized by conditions such as frequent urination, increased hunger and
thirst. There are three main categories of diabetes: type 1 diabetes, which is as a result of the
body failing to produce insulin and requires the frequent injection of insulin into the body; type 2
diabetes, which is associated by the body resistance towards insulin, the body cells fail to use the
insulin produced; gestational diabetes, which occurs in women during pregnancy due to the high
levels of glucose deposits in the body (Braun and Anderson 145). Gestational diabetes is similar
to type 2 diabetes since it involves a combination of insufficient insulin production and
inadequate responsiveness of the body to the insulin produced. Clark (99) reports that gestational
diabetes is reported in about 2-5 percent of all pregnancies. In addition, gestational diabetes can
be treated but needs cautious medical supervision in the course of the pregnancy. Other types of
diabetes include congenital diabetes, which is as a result of genetic defections with respect to
insulin secretion, steroid diabetes and many more. Prediabetes refers to a condition whereby the
blood sugar levels are above normal but not sufficiently high to cause type 2 diabetes. This paper
discusses the prevalence of diabetes, its causes, signs and symptoms, management, and the
physiology of diabetes.
Physiology of Diabetes

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Insulin plays a pivotal role in the regulation of glucose absorption from the blood into fat
cells and primary muscle; as a result, insufficient insulin or its receptors being insensitive plays a
significant role in causing all types of diabetes (Costanzo 189; Le Roith, Taylor and Jerrold
199). Diabetes is considered a metabolism disorder. The digestive system is used in breaking
down carbohydrates such as starch and sugar into blood sugar in the form of glucose, which
enters into the bloodstream. Insulin facilities the process of blood sugar absorption into the
bloodstream; as a result, diabetes is likely to develop of the body does not produce sufficient
insulin, or that the insulin produced is not utilized efficiently. Beta cells found in the islets in the
pancreas produce insulin and makes sure it is released into the bloodstream (Davidson 145). If
the beta cells fail to produce sufficient insulin, or when the body fails to respond to the insulin
present, or when the insulin produced is defective, there will be glucose build up in the blood
stream rather than being absorbed in the body cells, which in turn results in diabetes. The net
outcome of this is continual high blood sugar levels, impaired protein synthesis as well as other
metabolic disorders (Gwen 147). Consequently, the high blood sugar levels damages blood
vessels and nerves, which results in long-term complications such as amputations, dental disease,
blindness, kidney disease, stroke, and heart disease (Costanzo 47).
Prevalence of Diabetes
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that Diabetes is a medical condition that
is life threatening; attributing to almost 3 million deaths annually. It also reports that diabetic
complications are on the rise basically due to ignorance by the people in terms of lifestyles and
need to adhere to the necessary preventive measures (World Health Organization para. 5). A large
number of Americans have been diagnosed with diabetes mellitus type 2 and a majority of them
are not informed of the risks of diabetic complications. The American Diabetes Association

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(A.D.A) reports that 7.8% of the American population, which equates to 23.6 million people,
have diabetes (World Health Organization). It also infers that diabetes is responsible for many
deaths in America. Type 2 diabetes is prevalent among the African Americans, Latin Americans,
Native Americans and the Asian Americans.
Signs and Symptoms
The classical signs and symptoms that are associated with diabetes include recurrent
urinations, increased dehydration and appetite (Kamal 100). Symptoms tend to develop faster in
type 1 diabetes, while in type 2 diabetes, symptoms may be mild or sometimes even absent.
Continual high glucose levels may result in absorption of glucose in the eye lenses, which causes
alterations in the shape of the eye, which in turn results to vision impairments. Type 1 diabetes is
characterized by rapid changes in the lens shape while I type two the changes are gradual. Type 1
diabetes is characterized by a condition known as diabetic ketoacidosis, which is characterized
by rapid breathing, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and cases of unconsciousness (Le Roith,
Taylor and Jerrold 147). Diabetes is also characterized by dehydration, which is due to frequent
drinking of beverages that contain high sugar contents.
Long-term complications linked to diabetes often develop after about 10-20 years, and
this is the probable first noticeable symptom among individuals who have not been diagnosed for
diabetes prior to the onset of these complications. Some of the long-term complications
associated with diabetes include damaged blood cells and increases the risk of suffering from
cardiovascular disease (Manfred 54). Diabetes also results in damaged capillaries, blurred vision
and increases the likelihood of developing blindness, and damages in the kidney, which increases
the risk of suffering from chronic kidney disease. Diabetes also affects the nervous system,

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which is evident by numbness, skin damage resulting from altered sensation, and pain and
itchiness in the feet. Studies have also suggested a relationship between diabetes and cognitive
deficit. The figure below is a visual model of the symptoms of diabetes.

Causes of Diabetes
The causes of diabetes differ with respect to ones genetic makeup, environmental and
health factors, ethnicity and family history (McArdle, Katch and Katch 148). In addition, the
causes vary in accordance with the type of diabetes. As a resulted, there is no defined cause of
diabetes owing to the fact that it varies according to the type and the individual. For example, the

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type 1 diabetes causes are different from the factors that cause gestational diabetes. Likewise,
type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes are caused by different factors.
Type 1 diabetes is linked to destruction of the pancreatic cells making insulin by the
immune system, which results in the body failing to produce adequate insulin. Some of the
causes associated with type 1 diabetes include genetic disposition of the individual,
bacterial/viral infection, unidentified components that are likely to cause autoimmune reaction,
and the presence of chemical toxins in food. Environmental variables such as toxins, viruses and
foods are likely to be involved in type 1 diabetes; however, the precise nature of their
involvement is yet to be established. Theories propose that environmental variables are likely to
activate the autoimmune damage of beta cells among individuals with hereditary susceptibility
with respect to diabetes. Other studies have also put forwards that dietary aspects are likely to
increase or lessen the risk of suffering from type 1 diabetes. An example is the use of Vitamin D
supplements, which reduces the risk of suffering from type 1 diabetes (MedicineNet para. 10).
On the other hand, type 2 diabetes is caused by several factors, with the most dominant cause
being the family history. Some of the risk factors associated with type 2 diabetes include
sedentary lifestyle, ageing, bad diet, and obesity. For gestational diabetes, the causes are yet to be
established; however, the risk factors include obesity, polycystic ovary syndrome, and a family
history associated with gestational diabetes (McArdle, Katch and Katch 104).
Treatment and Management of Diabetes
The fundamental concept towards the treatment of diabetes is basically due to the
availability of insulin. Insulin was first made available during 1921 and this marked the
beginning of treatment for diabetes. Type 2 diabetes currently has medications that are aimed at

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controlling and avoiding the complications that result due to its infections (Morgan 104). Type 1
diabetes and type 2 diabetes are chronic conditions implying that in most cases they cannot be
completely treated. Curative methods towards the cure of diabetes have been suggested and
experiment; one such method is the pancreas transplant, which yielded limited successes towards
the treatment of type1 diabetes (Porth 158).
The treatment of diabetes in most cases is specialized in accordance to factors such as the
type of diabetes, whether the patient presently has other active medical disorders, whether the
patient has other diabetic complications, the age of the patient and the general health conditions
of the patient (Sherwood 148). The only medical treatment for diabetes that has been proven
efficient is the use of insulin. Insulin injection is primarily aimed at increasing the levels of
insulin that is required for glucose digestion. The medication of type 1 diabetes always
encompasses daily injection of insulin; which is a combination of both long acting insulin such
as lispro or aspart with short acting insulin such as lente or ultra lente (Regensteinerr, Aristidis
and Reusch 148). Insulin must be administered as an injection but not through the mouth usually
two to three times in a day especially after meals. For the case of type 2 diabetes, medication
depends on the patients blood sugar level at the time of diagnosis. The patient may be given
time to lower his/her blood sugar without medication; this can be achieved through dietary
checking and physical exercise, normally for a period of 6 months. The use of insulin is the most
efficient approach to diabetes treatment. Another way of treating diabetes is through pancreas
transplants, although it has not been proved to be efficient compared to insulin injection (Sabire
99).
Management of diabetes is relatively hard; it aims at ensuring a stable concentration of
blood sugar levels without posing danger for the patient (Sudha 78). To ensure this, dietary habits

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must be monitored and enough physical exercising, aimed at the breaking down of glucose.
Patient education is one of the effective strategies to manage diabetes and to avoid diabetic
complications. Diabetic complications are less severe in individuals who have knowledge on
managing their blood sugar levels. The onset of diabetes is accelerated by smoking, taking foods
with cholesterol, obesity and the lack of adequate regular physical activity. Management of long
term diabetes needs strict consideration of lifestyle issues (Tanner 148).
Conclusion
This paper has discussed several aspects relating diabetes including the types of diabetes,
its physiological aspects, symptoms and signs, causes, and treatment and management. The types
of diabetes identified include type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes, and other
types of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is associated with the body failing to produce sufficient
whereas type 2 diabetes is associated with insulin resistance. The classical signs and symptoms
that are associated with diabetes include recurrent urinations, increased dehydration and appetite.
The causes of diabetes differ with respect to ones genetic makeup, environmental and health
factors, ethnicity and family history. In addition, the causes vary in accordance with the type of
diabetes. Causes associated with type 1 diabetes include genetic disposition of the individual,
bacterial/viral infection, unidentified components that are likely to cause autoimmune reaction,
and the presence of chemical toxins in food. Type 2 diabetes is caused by a sedentary lifestyle,
ageing, bad diet, and obesity. The treatment of diabetes in most cases is individualized depending
on factors such as the type of diabetes, whether the patient presently has other active medical
disorders, whether the patient has other diabetic complications, the age of the patient and the
general health conditions of the patient.

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