AT THE CLINIC – ENDOCRINE SYSTEM

Heidi Kim

Carol Kim

SCENARIO # 10

Patrick was diagnosed with diabetes mellitus on his 8th birthday. His 65-year aunt was just diagnosed with diabetes also. Patrick is having a hard time understanding why he need injections, while his aunt controls her blood sugar with diet and oral medication. Why is his aunt’s treatment different from his?

WHAT IS DIABETES?

Diabetes is classed as a metabolism disorder.

Metabolism refers to the way our bodies use digested food for energy and growth

Most of what we eat is broken down in to glucose (form of sugar in our blood)

Insulin makes it possible for our cells to take in the glucose

Insulin is a hormone that is produced by the pancreas.

TYPE 1 DIABETES

Also known as juvenile diabetes because of its tendency to strike a person in their childhood up to their early adulthood.

Sometimes also known as insulin Dependent Diabetes as a person with this condition is reliant upon insulin injections to survive.

CAUSE FOR TYPE 1 DIABETES

The cause for type 1 diabetes is usually pancreatic failure due to what is known as an “auto immune” malfunction

Autoimmunity is where our immune system mistakenly attacks realty cells or tissues within the body much in the same way as it would viral infection.

CAUSE FOR TYPE 1 DIABETES

OTHER SYMPTOMS

If blood sugar isn't raised quickly then a person can end up unconscious, in a coma, or even die in a very short space of time.

Increased thirst Hunger Tiredness Increased urination Blurred vision Nausea Possibly even vomiting

TYPE 2 DIABETES

Also known as “adult onset diabetes” because it was thought only adults developed this form of diabetes.

It has been proven false as a number of children throughout the world now developed this type of diabetes.

CAUSE OF TYPE 2 DIABETES

Unlike like type 1 diabetes it isn't the failure of pancreas but more due to obesity, poor diets, and unhealthy lifestyles.

When people overload themselves with sugar the persistent blood sugar levels, and the insulin and pancreas can struggle to deal with the sugar.

The insulin ushers the sugar into the muscles, but the muscles don’t burn the glucose off because there is no exercise.

OTHER SYMPTOMS Type 2 diabetessymptoms may developvery slowly Increased thirst and

frequent urination. Increased hunger. Weight loss. Fatigue Blurred vision. Slow-healing sores or

frequent infections. Areas of darkened skin.

TREATMENTS

Diet Exercise other health habits will help to improve blood

sugar control