diabetesetiology and pathophysiology |
- Diagnosis- Diabetes mellitus is a condition when a sugar called glucose cannot be absorbed normally in our cells. Glucose is the main source of energy for our cells in our body. The levels of glucose in the blood are controlled by a hormone called insulin. Insulin helps glucose enter the cells in our body. The food in our diets provide our body with glucose, and is used as energy for our body. If there is no insulin or the way it affects our body is altered, the glucose will stay in the blood. Having glucose in the blood is toxic and can cause serious harm.
- There are two types of diabetes. In type 1 diabetes, the pancreas cannot make enough insulin. This usually occurs in people under the age of 30. People diagnosed with type 1 need to take an insulin injection daily.
- In type 2 diabetes the body cannot answer normally to the hormone insulin that is made. This usually occurs in people over the age of 40 and are often overweight. Diabetes type 2 can be controlled by lifestyle changes and medications.
Clinical manifestations
- When the amount of blood glucose in the blood increases, more glucose is filtered by the kidneys which causes the glucose to be excreted in the urine. It also causes large amounts of urine to be excreted. The loss of water from the circulation stimulates thirst.
- The loss of glucose in the urine results in weakness, fatigue, weight loss, and increased appetite.
- Patients with excess amounts of blood glucose are prone to vaginal and urinary tract infections.
signs and symptoms
- A more than usual amount of urine produced
- Clear or see through urine
- Thirst
- Feeling sick to stomach
- Weakness
- Blurred vision
- Feeling of coldness in legs and arms, hands and feet
- Cramping in calves and feet while walking
- Decreased feeling and tingling in legs and feet
- Urinary tract infections