Philip Cezar B. AlverioBSN IV-13
Definition of Diabetes
Diabetesmellitus is a chronic disease caused by the inability of the pancreas toproduce insulin or to use the insulin produced in the proper way. Diabetes is the7th leading cause of death among Americans; over 15 million Americans sufferfrom one form or another of this disease.
Description of Diabetes
After a meal, a portion of the food a person eats is broken down into sugar(glucose). The sugar then passes into the bloodstream and to the body's cells via ahormone (called insulin) that is produced by the pancreas.Normally, the pancreas produces the right amount of insulin to accommodate thequantity of sugar. However, if the person hasdiabetes,either the pancreasproduces little or no insulin or the cells do not respond normally to the insulin.Sugar builds up in the blood, overflows into the urine and then passes from the body unused.
Symptoms
Excessive urination
Thirst
Weight loss
Lack of energy The symptoms described above may not necessarily mean that you havediabetes. However, if you experience one or more of these symptoms,contact your doctor for a complete exam.
Treatment
Type 1 (Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus)Type 1 diabetes is treated with intensive insulin therapy. This type of treatment isdesigned to achieve near-normal blood sugars safely - while keeping the episodesof low blood sugars ("insulin reactions") to a minimum. Insulin therapy includes:
Multiple Daily Injections of Insulin (Flexibility is important!).
Use of Insulin Pens or Pumps.
Use of new type of insulin: Lispro or Humalog (extremely fast-acting) -replaces regular insulin.Type 2 (Non-Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus)The treatment used in treating type 2 diabetes will be based on the physiological
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