Name: Christine Apelle
Tutor:Professor Zeus
Course: Dietetics 101
Date:
Diabetes
Diabetes, often referred to as diabetes mellitus by doctors, is a group of metabolic diseases whereby the person affected has high sugars in blood (blood glucose) and is either caused because of inadequate insulin production or because the cells of the body do not properly respond to insulin and in some case both situations are applicable. Patients with high levels of blood sugars normally experience polyuria (unusual continuous urination), they become progressively thirsty (polydipsia) and frequent hunger (polyphagia). There are basically three types of diabetes namely:
1. Type1 diabetes
In this type of diabetes, the body completely produces no insulin. Some people refer to this type of diabetes as juvenile diabetes, early onset diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes. Most people develop this type1 diabetes often in their teenage years, early adulthood or just before their 40th years. This type of diabetes is nowhere near as prevalent as type2 diabetes (DeFronzo, 2004).
Approximately 10% of all the cases of diabetes are type1. Patients who suffer from type1 diabetes need injections of insulin for the remainder of their lifetime. They must also insure proper levels of blood sugars by carrying out frequent blood tests and must also follow special diet.
Between the years 2001 and 2009, pervasiveness of type 1 diabetes amongst the youth under the age of 20 in the United Sates rose to 23%. This is according to a specially prepared report “Search for Diabetes in the Youth” that was issued by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
2. Type2 diabetes
In this type of diabetes, the body does not make adequate insulin for proper functioning, or the body cells do not respond to insulin (insulin resistance). Approximately 90% of all cases of diabetes are type2.
Some people are able to control or regulate their symptoms of type2 diabetes by either losing...