Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: A Case Study

Diabetes mellitus is a serious condition that should be managed properly to prevent complications. These complications from diabetes mellitus can lead to health problems and even death if not managed. The problems occur because of changed in large blood vessels, also known as macrovascular, as well as small blood vessels know as, microvascular, in tissues and organs. Microvascular complications can lead to nephropathy, neuropathy, and retinopathy. The main cause of microvascular complications is chronic elevated blood glucose levels. (Ignatavicius & Workman, 2012).
When contrasting the differences in microvascular differences you must first look at the different areas in which each affect. Retinopathy is problems of the eye and can be divided
Screening for retinopathy include dilated eye exams and should be scheduled by the patient within 5 years of the onset of type 1 diabetes and at the time of diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. Yearly screenings should be completed thereafter. Testing for excretion of albumin is used for the screening of diabetic nephropathy. Microalbuminuria, or small amounts of albumin in the urine, is the earliest manifestation of nephropathy. Annual testing for 5 years for patients is recommended for patients who have had type 1 and for everyone with type 2. (Ignatavicius & Workman, 2012). Screenings for neuropathy include monofilament testing. This test is done by using a piece of plastic fiber. The fiber is touched against various parts of the soles of the patient’s foot to assess the patient’s ability to feel it. Patients who have decreased sensation should be instructed to examine their feet to check for ulcers. (Zimmerman, 2013). It is extremely important or patients who have been diagnosed with diabetes mellitus to control their blood sugar in order to prevent these types of complications associated with