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Jill Andersen
Angela Lancaster
HLTH 1020-412
03/17/2015
RESEARCH PAPER: DIABETES
My research paper topic was chosen from a disease that runs in the maternal side of my family.
The fact that genetics contribute significantly to my chances of becoming diabetic one day, it has
been in my thoughts regularly for most of my life. I was a young teenager when my mom was
diagnosed with diabetes. When my mom was initially diagnosed, her doctor told her that if she
would lose weight she would not even require medication for her diabetes. I know now that she
must have actually been pre-diabetic. Unfortunately, she was ashamed that she had become
diabetic because she had let herself gain weight over the years. She hid it from her co-workers
and our neighbors. She did not lose weight and continued to live her life the same as before her
diagnosis. When she was a young mother she watched her own mother slowly succumb to the
disease. I was scared that becoming diabetic would happen to me. Now that many years have
passed and my mothers disease has progressed significantly I am more determined to exercise,
stay within the normal weight range and eat a healthy diet. My mother is only 65 and has been
unable to drive a car for the past 8 years, she was on dialysis for 2 years after her kidney failed
until she receive a kidney transplant 6 years ago. The toxins that built up in her body before
doctors realized that her kidney had failed left her cognitive abilities permanently diminished.
She has become severely depressed and sleeps an average of 14-16 hours a day! Her personality
has changed as she has lost practically all of her independence and her ability to do the things
that she loves to do, because of her poor vision.

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In this paper I will list my research findings regarding diabetes. I will start with describing of
the two types of diabetes, pre-diabetes and will including the signs and symptoms of diabetes as
well as the long term effects. Then I will list the cause, treatment, prevention, effects of diet and
the effects of activity/exercise on diabetes.
DESCRIPTION
Type 1 Diabetes is usually diagnosed in children and young adults, and was previously known as
juvenile diabetes. Only 5% of people with diabetes have this form of the disease. (ADA)
Pre-Diabetes for type 2. People with pre-diabetes have glucose levels that are higher than normal
but not high enough yet to indicate diabetes. The condition used to be called borderline diabetes.
(WebMD)
Type 2 Diabetes is a problem with your body that causes blood glucose levels to rise higher than
normal. This is also called hyperglycemia. Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes.
If you have type 2 diabetes your body does not use insulin properly. This is called insulin
resistance. At first, your pancreas makes extra insulin to make up for it. But, over time it isn't
able to keep up and can't make enough insulin to keep your blood glucose at normal levels.
(ADA)
As of 2013, 382 million people have diabetes worldwide. Type 2 makes up about 95% of the
cases. This is equal to 8.3% of the adult population with equal rates in both women and men.
In 2014, the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) estimated that diabetes resulted in 4.9
million deaths. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that diabetes resulted in 1.5
million deaths in 2012, making it the 8th leading cause of death. (Wikipedia)

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Some of the signs and symptoms of type 1 and type 2 diabetes are:
(1) Increased thirst, (2) Frequent urination, (3) Extreme hunger, (4) Unexplained
weight loss, (5) Presence of ketones in the urine (ketones are a byproduct of the
breakdown of muscle and fat that happens when there's not enough available
insulin), (6) Fatigue, (7) Irritability, (8) Blurred vision, (9) Slow-healing sores,
(10) Frequent infections, such as gums or skin infections and vaginal infections
(Mayo Clinic)
Long-term complications of diabetes develop gradually. The longer you have diabetes and the
less controlled your blood sugar the higher the risk of complications. Eventually, diabetes
complications may be disabling or even life-threatening. Possible complications include:
Cardiovascular disease. Increases the risk of various cardiovascular problems,
including coronary artery disease with chest pain (angina), heart attack, stroke and
narrowing of arteries (atherosclerosis). If you have diabetes, you are more likely
to have heart disease or stroke.
Nerve damage (neuropathy). Excess sugar can injure the walls of the tiny blood
vessels (capillaries) that nourish your nerves, especially in your legs. This can
cause tingling, numbness, burning or pain that usually begins at the tips of the
toes or fingers and gradually spreads upward. Left untreated, you could lose all
sense of feeling in the affected limbs. Damage to the nerves related to digestion
can cause problems with nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or constipation. For men, it
may lead to erectile dysfunction.
Kidney damage (nephropathy). The kidneys contain millions of tiny blood vessel
clusters (glomeruli) that filter waste from your blood. Diabetes can damage this

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delicate filtering system. Severe damage can lead to kidney failure or irreversible
end-stage kidney disease, which may require dialysis or a kidney transplant.
Eye damage (retinopathy). Diabetes can damage the blood vessels of the retina
(diabetic retinopathy), potentially leading to blindness. Diabetes also increases the
risk of other serious vision conditions, such as cataracts and glaucoma.
Foot damage. Nerve damage in the feet or poor blood flow to the feet increases
the risk of various foot complications. Left untreated, cuts and blisters can
develop serious infections, which often heal poorly. These infections may
ultimately require toe, foot or leg amputation.
Skin conditions. Diabetes may leave you more susceptible to skin problems,
including bacterial and fungal infections.
Hearing impairment. Hearing problems are more common in people with
diabetes.
Alzheimer's disease. Type 2 diabetes may increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease.
The poorer your blood sugar control, the greater the risk appears to be. Although
there are theories as to how these disorders might be connected, none has yet been
proved. (Mayo Clinic)
CAUSES
Type 1 diabetes means your pancreas is no longer capable of producing insulin.
Type 2 diabetes is diagnosed when (1) the pancreas does not produce any insulin, (2) When the
pancreas produces very little insulin, or (3) When the body does not respond appropriately to
insulin, a condition called insulin resistance.

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TREATMENT
Treatments vary depending on whether you are pre-diabetic, type 1 diabetic or type 2 diabetic.
The American Association of Diabetic Education list Seven Self-Care Behaviors Which
include:
(1) Healthy Eating, (2) Being Active, (3) Monitoring, (4) Taking Medications, (5)
Problem Solving (to figure out why blood sugar spikes are occurring), (6)
Reducing Risks and (7) Healthy Coping. (AADE)
Type 1 diabetics pancreas no longer produces insulin. Insulin injections and frequent blood
sugar monitoring is necessary. Pre-diabetes and the beginning stages of Type 2 diabetes maybe
controlled through a healthy diet, exercise and medication.
Type 2 Diabetes Oral Medications to lower blood glucose levels include:
(1) Sulfonylureas, (2) Biguanides, (3) Meglitinides, (4) Thiazolidinediones, (5) DPP4 inhibitors, (6) SGLT2 Inhibitors, (7) Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors, (8)
Bile Acid Sequestrants (ADA)
PREVENTION
Type 1 Diabetes: None
Type 2 Diabetes & Pre-diabetes: Although genetics does play a factor and some groups have a
higher risk for developing type 2 diabetes than others (African Americans, Latinos, Native
Americans, and Americans/Pacific Islanders, as well as the aged population), the best ways to
prevent development of Type 2 include:
(1) Eat healthy foods. Choose foods lower in fat and calories and higher in fiber. (2) Get
more physical activity. The less active you are, the greater your risk. Physical activity helps
you control your weight, uses up glucose as energy and makes your cells more sensitive to

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insulin. Aim for 30 minutes of moderate physical activity a day. (3) Being overweight. The
more fatty tissue you have, the more resistant your cells become to insulin. (4) Polycystic
ovary syndrome. For women, having polycystic ovary syndrome a common condition
characterized by irregular menstrual periods. (5) High blood pressure. Having blood pressure
over 140/90 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) is linked to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes.
(6) Abnormal cholesterol and triglyceride levels. If you have low levels of high-density
lipoprotein (HDL), or "good," cholesterol, your risk of type 2 diabetes is higher.
Triglycerides are another type of fat carried in the blood. People with high levels of
triglycerides have an increased risk of type 2 diabetes. (Mayo Clinic)
EFFECTS OF DIET:
Fresh is Best. Fresh fruits and vegetables are not preserved with sodium or in sugary syrups.
Top 10 Superfoods for Diabetics are:
(1) Beans, (2) dark green leafy vegetables, (3) Citrus, (4) Sweet Potatoes, (5)
Berries, (6) tomatoes, (7) fish high in Omega 3, (8) whole grains, (9) nuts, (10)
fat-free milk & yogurt.
Vegetables. Diabetics should consume primarily non-starchy vegetables. They should try to eat
at least 3-5 servings of vegetables a day. A serving of vegetables is: cup of cooked vegetables
or vegetable juice 1 cup of raw vegetables. Examples of non-starchy vegetables include:
artichoke hearts, asparagus, baby corn, bean sprouts, beets, brussel sprouts,
broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, cucumber, eggplant, greens,
mushrooms, onions, pea pods, peppers, radishes, salad greens, squash, sugar snap
peas, swiss chard, (24) tomato and turnips. (ADDE)

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Fruit: The best choices of fruit are any that are fresh, frozen or canned without added sugars.
Choose canned fruits in juice or light syrup Dried fruit and 100% fruit juice are also nutritious
choices, but the portion sizes are small so they may not be as filling as other choices. A small
piece of whole fruit or about cup of frozen or canned fruit has about 15 grams of carbohydrate.
Servings for most fresh berries and melons are from - 1 cup. Fruit juice can range from 1/3 1/2 cup for 15 grams of carbohydrate. Examples of good fruits to choose include:
Apples, applesauce, apricots, banana, blackberries, blueberries, cantaloupe,
cherries, dates, dried fruit figs, fruit cocktail, grapefruit, grapes, honeydew melon,
kiwi, mango, nectarine, orange, papaya, peaches, pears, pineapple, raspberries,
strawberries. (ADDE)
EFFECT(S) OF ACTIVITY/EXERCISE
Physical activity is highly recommended for diabetics because it helps control weight and uses
up glucose as energy and makes your cells more sensitive to insulin. Diabetics should frequently
check their blood glucose before, during, and after an exercise session. If blood glucose levels
are trending down before a workout, eat a pre-exercise snack. Always carry a carbohydrate food
or drink (like juice or glucose tabs) that will quickly raise blood glucose. If blood glucose is
high before starting exercise, check blood or urine for ketones. If the test is positive for ketones,
avoid vigorous activity. If there are no ketones in the blood or urine then diabetics should be fine
to exercise. (AADE)
CONCLUSION

After giving birth to my daughter, my third child, the extra baby weight that I had gained
during pregnancy just didnt want to come off on its own like it had with my first two children.
Just before she turned two I went to the doctor for a check-up and discovered that I had actually

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gained 10lbs. in the last year. I had never had to monitor my weight closely before since it never
fluctuate more 3-5 pounds. I decided that I wasnt going to be another diabetic in my family. I
was definitely not going to finish out my last years of life the same way my mother is and the
same way her mother did. I was going to do my best to avoid becoming a diabetic. I began to
monitor my food intake using MyFitnessPal with a daily calorie goal of 1,200 (2lb per week
loss). I began walking 90 minutes a day at a brisk pace 5 to 6 times a week for a couple of
weeks. Then I began to jog part of my walk. After a few weeks I reduced my cardio to 60
minutes when I eventually was able to jog the entire time. Now I am able to run 6.0 7.5 mph
for 60 minutes. I completed a fitness test for my Fitness for Life class and was able to run 1.5
miles in 10 min. 56 sec (at age 37 that is rated as superior health). My goal at the end of my 8
week class it to run 1.5 miles in under 10 min. Within the first 10 weeks I had lost 20lbs. and
dropped my BMI from 25 to 21. My blood pressure is below normal range (always has been),
My HDL and LDL levels are at healthy levels. It has now been 6 months since I made the
change and I dont see me ever stopping. I LOVE running!

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Works Cited
(AADE) American Association of Diabetes Education. Learn about AADEs Seven Self-Care
Behaviors. Educators. Web. 03/16/2015
(ADA) American Diabetes Association. Diabetes.org. 02/09/15. Web. 03/16/2015
Mayo Clinic. Diseases and Conditions Diabetes. 07/31/2014. Web. 03/16/2015
WebMD. Diabetes Health Center. Web. 03/16/2015
Wikipedia. Diabetes Mellitus. 03/11/2015. Web. 03/16/2015