Chronic Diabetic - Research Paper Example

? Chronic Diabetic of Introduction There are two circumstances that may result in a person developing diabetes, a chronic condition characterized by raised blood sugar. First, diabetes occurs when the pancreas cannot produce enough insulin. Second, diabetes is caused by the production of ineffective insulin by the body. As mentioned above, the most common effect of uncontrolled diabetes is raised blood sugar, also referred to as hyperglycemia. In fact, over time the raised level of blood sugar may result in severe damage and malfunctioning of other body organs and systems. Examples of organs and systems in the body largely affected by chronic diabetes are the nervous and the circulatory systems and blood vessels (Evert, 2010). The defects in insulin secretion and functions that cause diabetes are predominantly found to affect the digestion and metabolism of biomolecules such as carbohydrate, fat and protein. The two key types of diabetes are Type 1 and type 2 diabetes. While type 1 diabetes normally occurs in children and adolescents, thus requiring lifelong insulin injections for management and survival, the type 2 diabetes mostly attacks adults and is often related to obesity, unhealthy eating habits/diets and inactivity. The latter is the most common type of diabetes, affecting about 90% of all diabetics in the world. From its causes, it may be deduced that type 2 diabetes can be treated by the implementation of some lifestyle changes, which would cause weight loss besides prescribed medications and insulin injections. There are other minor classifications of diabetes including gestational diabetes, which mainly develops during pregnancy (Evert, 2010). The other minor causes of gestational diabetes are acquired pancreatitis, diseases such as cystic fibrosis, certain drugs, viruses and genetic syndromes. The other metabolic states that could accelerate the development of diabetes are intermediate states of hyperglycemia due to impaired fasting glucose and/or impaired glucose tolerance (Evert, 2010). This paper explores the subject of chronic diabetes regarding its causes, signs and symptoms, treatment, prevention, management and related complications such as eye disease, kidney nephropathy and hypertension. Chronic Diabetes There are several core signs and symptoms by which chronic diabetes due to hyperglycemia is identified including increased urination, increased hunger, weight loss and increased thirst. In addition to these symptoms, damaged eyes/impaired vision and eventual blindness, renal failure, impotence, foot disorders (due to insufficient blood flow to legs) and nervous system impairment are the long-term effects of hyperglycemia. Chronic diabetes also exposes one to risks of developing stroke, kidney disease and heart disease. From the causes, signs and symptoms of chronic diabetes it is quite apparent that the central way of treating or managing the condition is by lowering the elevated levels of blood sugar to the normal levels. This lowering of blood sugar level not only assists in improving the signs and symptoms of the disease but also prevents/delays the setting in of the myriad complications associated with chronic diabetes. It is not enough to beware of and implement the necessary interventions to realize normal blood sugar levels: more should be done by way of proper, patient-centered, well-coordinated and comprehensive interventions, caring for and treating chronic diabetics (Lorig et al., 2012). Chiefly at risk of contracting chronic diabetes and other serious and life-threatening conditions are older adults amongst whom most of the life-threatening conditions often associated with chronic diabetes are observed to be more widespread. It has also been observed that many years of undetected or untreated unusually high blood sugar levels is responsible for widespread chronic diabetes in older adults. Thus, it is imperative that victims of chronic diabetes under formal and informal care should be encouraged to practise good chronic diabetes management that would speed up the lowering of blood sugar levels to optimal range. For instance, chronic diabetics should stop smoking cigarettes, stay physically active, have a healthy weight, take prescribed medications and eat well-balanced diets. Although these interventions may look simple and people may tend to ignore them, they are actually the most effective methods of not only avoiding or slowing chronic diabetes complications but are also effective in reducing the risks of contracting the disease (Lorig et al., 2012). Chronic Diabetes Complications There are several health complications that are associated with chronic diabetes, and health care professionals and caregivers should be conversant with them and their management since they are big threats to diabetics’ lives. The first among these conditions is high blood pressure or hypertension, which occurs whenever blood within blood vessels move with a greater pressure than the normal range. That is, given that a blood pressure of 120/80 millimeters of mercury or below is considered normal, a pressure of 130/80 or higher is considered hypertension (Lorig et al., 2012). This diabetes-related hypertension places extra strain on vital organs such as blood vessels and the heart, in the process exposing a person to heart attack, stroke and kidney problems. As mentioned earlier managing and preventing these diabetes-associated complications require regular exercise, stress management, a balanced, low-salt diet, prescription medications and modest alcohol consumption. Significantly, regular blood pressure checkup is highly recommended. Heart disease or cardiovascular disease is another condition associated with chronic diabetes. It attacks and damages the arteries and the veins of the heart. In fact, scientific evidence shows that hyperglycemia worsens heart disease and other related complications. High blood pressure associated with chronic diabetes could result in a stroke if a blood vessel in the brain is damaged (Lorig et al., 2012). Similarly, high levels of blood sugar hardens the walls of arteries in the heart, causing atherosclerosis and the subsequent heart attack or stroke as the brain is starved of oxygen. Once the brain is damaged, a chronic diabetic may have an impaired speech and mobility and eventually may die. A definite way of preventing and managing heart disease in diabetics is by lowering blood sugar levels and lipid consumption, more so cholesterol and triglycerides, which must always fall within the optimal range (Lorig et al., 2012). As in the case of hypertension and diabetes in general, lifestyle changes are also highly recommended for preventing and treating diabetes-related heart disease. Yet another complication related to chronic diabetes that victims, their caregivers and health providers should be aware of is eye disease. There are several eye conditions that may be caused by untreated and chronic diabetes, most of which result in reduced vision and blindness for the diabetics. According to the latest reports, diabetes is cited among the leading causes of blindness in older adults above 60 years of age. The eye complications are as a result of damage to blood the vessels and nerves in the retina area. Chronic diabetes also causes anomalous growth of new capillaries inside the retina thus degrading blood flow and weakening a diabetic’s vision. The consequence is Diabetic Retinopathy. Unfortunately, damage to vision caused by diabetes-related damage to blood vessels and nerves is permanent. Nonetheless, when identified and treated early enough, diabetes-related eye problems could be reversed or prevented (Montgomery, 2011). Eye examination is thus highly recommended for diabetics. Similarly, these diabetes-related chronic complications could be prevented and treated via maintaining blood glucose and cholesterol levels within the optimal range, thus lowering blood pressure. The kidneys are another vital organ affected by chronic diabetes. Since kidneys filter blood and diabetics’ blood contain high concentration of glucose that damages blood vessels in the kidneys, diabetes causes kidney nephropathy. In more extreme cases, a diabetic may end up with a kidney failure, which would require frequent dialysis, a rather expensive treatment procedure. Worse still, one may require obtaining kidney transplantation. Skin infections, nerve damage and joint/foot problems are yet another form of complications related to chronic diabetes. The specific portion of the nervous system affected by chronic diabetes is the peripheral nervous system, which controls arms, legs and other boundary organs. The symptoms of this nervous effect of chronic diabetes are tingling or buzzing sensations, numbness and pains in the hands and/or feet (Montgomery, 2011). Other symptoms include loss of bladder control and mobility problems. In males, the problems could worsen as complete impotence or erectile dysfunction of some extent set in. Chronic diabetes may also result in cognitive issues as the brain is one of the most affected organs in diabetics (Montgomery, 2011). Since poor blood flow to joints reduces sensation, chronic diabetics may have their hands and feet easily damaged as they become insusceptible to disease and damage. The skin conditions caused by diabetes include fungal (yeast) and bacterial infections, skin spotting/diabetic dermopathy, spots, rashes and bumpy skin patches (Montgomery, 2011). In fact, research findings have often associated chronic diabetes with memory loss in older adults and with risks of Alzheimer's disease. Conclusion Diabetes is one of the major chronic diseases that continue to catch the attention of the health care industry as well as the lay public. In particular, chronic diabetes, if not detected and treated in time, could result in myriad other medical conditions such as hypertension, eye disease, kidney nephropathy, cognitive impairment and joint problems among others. However, factors and interventions such as good lifestyle, healthy diet, prescription medicine and insulin injection are recommended for chronic diabetes prevention, treatment and management. References Evert, J. (2010). “Chronic Complications of Diabetes.” Mentalhelp.net. Retrieved on August 20, 2012 from http://www.mentalhelp.net/poc/view_doc.php?type=doc&id=5176 Lorig, L. R., Holman, H., Sobel, D., Laurent, D. and Gonzalez, V. (2012). Living a healthy life with chronic conditions: Self-management of heart disease, arthritis, diabetes, depression, asthma, bronchitis, emphysema and other physical and mental health, conditions, fourth edition. Bull Publishing Company. Montgomery, B. D. (2011). The food prescription for better health: A cardiologist’s proven method to reverse heart disease, diabetes, obesity and other chronic illnesses naturally! Delworth Publishing. Read More