Diabetes mellitus is a chronic hyperglycemic condition in which the body does not produce enough or no insulin at all to control blood sugar levels in the body. The prevalence of diabetes is steadily growing at a fast rate, and it is predicted that by the year 2030 an estimated 370 million adults will be diagnosed with diabetes, that is double the amount of patient diagnosed with diabetes in the year 2000 (Ozougwu, Obimba, Belonwu, & Unakalamba, 2013). Diabetes has four classifications: diabetes mellitus type one, diabetes mellitus type two, gestational diabetes and juvenile diabetes. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the pathophysiology of diabetes type one, type two, gestational, and juvenile diabetes, describe the purpose and use of regular insulin and discuss the impact of diabetes on the patients.
Signs and Symptoms of Diabetes
The symptoms in type one diabetes are usually abrupt in presentation while the type two symptoms are gradual. Both types of diabetes have the same symptoms with the only difference being the onset of symptoms. The symptoms include:
• Increased thirst and urination
• Numbness and tingling in hands …show more content…
Long term complication from untreated or poorly controlled diabetes occur over time, and the less the patients' blood sugar is controlled, the higher the risk for complications which can lead to disability or death. Possible complication and other organ systems affected by diabetes are cardiovascular diseases, neuropathy, nephropathy, retinopathy, poor circulation, impaired wound healing, and higher risk for Alzheimer's disease (Mayo Clinic, 2014). Short-term complications of diabetes are hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, diabetic ketoacidosis which can lead to a coma, and hyperglycemic hyperosmolar non-ketotic syndrome. These conditions if not recognized and treated promptly can lead to serious medical conditions including