Diabetes Mellitus
Diabetes is so prevalent in our society that it accounts for at leastone-sixth of all health care spending (Florence and Yeager, 1999, p. 2835). There are two types of diabetes, Type 1, which requires insulin injectionsand usually occurs in younger patients, even children, and Type 2 diabetes,which has also been known as "adult-onset" diabetes, which is mainlycontrolled mainly by diet and exercise, and occurs later in life. Bothtypes are a form of hyperglycemia, or high blood sugar, as two researchersnote, "Diabetes is a group of metabolic diseases with characteristichyperglycemia associated with defects in insulin secretion, insulin action,or both" (Florence and Yeager, 1999, p. 2835). In Type 1, the pancreascannot produce insulin, while in Type 2, the body is unable to use theinsulin produced by the pancreas (Brodsky and Edelwich, 1998, p. 2).Diabetes can be quite devastating, and part of the problem is so much of Diagnosis of diabetes depends certainly on elevated blood sugarlevels, but sometimes the levels can be marginal, and so the disease can bedifficult to diagnose, especially in the early stages. New diagnosticcriteria were developed in the late 199
However,nursing professionals should be aware of the warning signs of diabetes, andthe lifestyle choices a patient must make to successfully manage andcontrol the disease. Diet is controlled for caloric and sugarintake, and often patients are urged to eat smaller, well-balanced mealsthroughout the day. Supportive nursing professionals can make adifference in how patients view and manage their diabetes by showingawareness, caring, and emotional support. The death rate forcardiovascular disease among elderly diabetic patients is twice that ofpeople without diabetes in the same age range (Bertera, 2003, p. Recovery is often remarkable in those who actively manage their diet andexercise effectively, and it is not so remarkable in those patients who donot aggressively manage their disease. In conclusion, diabetes mellitus is one of the most common diseasesaffecting Americans today. As age increases, so does the likelihood of the disease. Today, testing isrecommended for anyone 45 years of age or older, continuing every threeyears, and testing should begin earlier if there is a history of diabetesin the patient's background (Mayfield, 1998). A patient should work closely with hisdoctor to effectively manage the disease. Treatment of Type 1 diabetes usually includes insulin therapy at leastonce a day, and Type 2 can also use insulin, but not as often. Treatmentoften includes modification of the diet and adding exercise to dailyactivities. People who are asymptomatic and undiagnosed continue to develop thecomplications of diabetes mellitus" (Mayfield, 1998). It is a serious disease with seriousconsequences if it goes unchecked. These can includeatherosclerosis, heart disease, greater chance of stroke, Diabeticnephropathy, or renal (kidney) disease, diabetic neuropathy (disease of thenerves), and even diabetic foot ulcers (Edelwich, 1998, pp.
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