Diabetes Presentation Essay

Learning Team A was tasked to create a 15-20 slide presentation of a major health issue  prevalent in the United States. The group  chose the disease diabetes.  Diabetes is a disease that affects how your body  uses blood glucose. The glucose in your body is  important because it is an important source of  energy for the cells that make up our muscles and  tissues. It is the main source of fuel for our brain. Mellitus- Also known as Type 1 Diabetes, TD1; formerly insulin dependent diabetes or juvenile  diabetes.  Is a form of diabetes mellitus that results from the autoimmune destruction of the insulin-producing  beta cells in the pancreas. The subsequent lack of  insulin leads to increased blood and urine glucose. Polyuria (Frequent Urination) Polydipsia (Increased Thirst) Fatigue Weight Loss Blurred Vision Smell of acetone on the breath Abdominal Pain Nausea Diabetes Mellitus- Also known as  Type 2;formerly noninsulin-dependent diabetes  mellitus (NIDDM),or adult-onset diabetes. Diabetes Mellitus-Is a metabolic disorder that is  characterized by high blood sugar disorder where it  is insulin resistance and relative to the lack of  insulin. Polyuria (Frequent Urination) Vaginal Infections Fatigue Blurred Vision Weight Loss Itchiness Peripheral Neuropathy Glycosuria Gestational  diabetes starts when your body is not  able to make and use all the insulin it needs for  pregnancy. Without enough insulin, glucose cannot  leave the blood and be changed  to energy. Glucose builds up in the blood to high  levels. This is called hyperglycemia. Gestational  diabetes affects the mother in late  pregnancy, after the baby’s body has been formed,  but while the baby is busy growing. untreated or  poorly controlled gestational diabetes can hurt your  baby. When you have gestational diabetes, your  pancreas works overtime to produce insulin, but the  insulin does not lower your blood glucose levels. levels. Although  insulin does not cross the placenta,  glucose and other nutrients do. So extra blood  glucose goes through the placenta, giving the baby  high blood glucose levels. This causes the  baby’s pancreas to make extra insulin to get rid of  the blood glucose. Since the baby is getting more  energy than it needs to grow and develop, the extra  energy is stored as fat. This  can lead to macrosomia, or a â€Å"fat†Ã‚  baby. Babies with macrosomia face health problems  of their own, including damage to their shoulders  during birth. Because of the extra insulin made by  the baby’s pancreas, newborns may have very low  blood glucose levels at birth and are also at higher  risk for breathing problems. Babies with excess  insulin become children who are at risk  for obesity and adults who are at risk for type 2  diabetes. Gestational diabetes  doesn’t cause  noticeable signs or symptoms. Rarely,  gestational diabetes may cause  excessive thirst or increased urination. According to the National Diabetes Education Program these are the risk factors for diabetes: 45 years old or older. Overweight – BMI > 23 for Asian American, 26 for Pacific Islander, or 25 for anyone else.  Have a parent, brother, or sister with the disease. Family background is African American, Hispanic/Latino, American Indian, Asian American, or Pacific Islander. I have had diabetes while pregnant (gestational  diabetes) or gave birth to a baby weighing 9 pounds  or more. Have  been told that blood glucose (blood sugar)  levels are higher than normal. Have high blood pressure. Cholesterol levels are not normal – HDL (â€Å"good†)  cholesterol levels less than 35 or triglyceride level  higher than 250. Fairly inactive, physically active less than 3 times a  week. Have polycystic ovary syndrome (a set of symptoms  related to a hormonal imbalance that occurs in  females of reproductive age). The  skin around the neck or in armpits appears dirty  no matter how much it is scrubbed. The skin  appears dark, thick, and velvety. This is called  acanthosis nigricans. Have been told that have blood vessel problems  affecting the heart, brain, or legs. Set  a weight loss goal – The key to preventing  diabetes is to lose weight by eating healthy foods  that are lower in fat and calories and being  physically active. Set a goal that you can achieve,  they recommend 5 to 10 percent of your current  weight. Make healthy food choices – There are many weight  loss plans to choose from, but the DPP (Diabetes  Prevention Plan) showed that you can prevent or  delay the onset of diabetes by losing weight through  a low-fat, reduced calorie eating plan. Move  more – Try to get at least 30 minutes of  moderate-intensity physical activity five days a  week. If you have not been active, start off slowly,  building up to your goal. Any physical activity that  gets your heart rate up will do; walking, dancing,  swimming, biking, etc. You don’t have to do all 30  minutes at once, doing 10 minute sessions  throughout the day is fine. Diabetes is a endocrine systems disorder but affects all systems of the body: Eyes- Diabetes can damage the blood vessels in your eyes. This damage can lead to glaucoma, cataracts, structural changes to your retina, even blindness. When blood vessels are damaged, nerve signals can’t reach your eyes. In addition, having diabetes can lead to a buildup of pressure from fluid, which can compress nerves and other structures in your eye. Having a high level of blood sugar makes your kidneys work harder to filter your blood, and they can become overworked. This can lead to chronic kidney disease and complete failure. Having diabetes can also cause damage to your liver and cause a condition called nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. This means your liver is having difficulty processing fats. You may develop scar tissue on your liver and a condition called cirrhosis. Too much glucose circulating in the blood can damage any of the nerves in your body. This can lead to numbness, tingling and pain, especially in the legs and feet. If you develop cuts or sores you may not feel them, and they may heal very slowly. You may lose sensation in these areas, and if the damage is severe enough, amputations may be necessary. In  conclusion, diabetes can be potentially deadly  disease, effecting the whole body if left untreated. It  can however be easily managed through diet and  exercise, perhaps even avoided entirely by  practicing healthy eating habits and maintaining  regular exercise throughout life.