Diabetes and Drug Treatments Essay Paper
Diabetes and Drug Treatments Essay Paper
Diabetes and Drug Treatments
Diabetes is an endocrine system disorder that affects millions of children and adults (ADA, 2011). If left untreated, diabetic patients are at risk for several alterations including heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, neuropathy, and blindness. There are various methods for treating diabetes, many of which include some form of drug therapy. The type of diabetes as well as the patient’s behavior factors will impact treatment recommendations. In this Assignment, you compare types of diabetes including drug treatments for type 1, type 2, gestational, and juvenile diabetes.
To prepare:
Review this week’s media presentation on the endocrine system and diabetes, as well as Chapter 46 of the Arcangelo and Peterson text and the Peterson et al. article in the Learning Resources.
Reflect on differences between types of diabetes including type 1, type 2, gestational, and juvenile diabetes.
Select one type of diabetes.
Consider one type of drug used to treat the type of diabetes you selected including proper preparation and administration of this drug. Then, reflect on dietary considerations related to treatment.
Think about the short-term and long-term impact of the diabetes you selected on patients including effects of drug treatments.
By Day 7
Write a 2- to 3- page paper that addresses the following:
Explain the differences between types of diabetes including type 1, type 2, gestational, and juvenile diabetes.
Describe one type of drug used to treat the type of diabetes you selected including proper preparation and administration of this drug. Include dietary considerations related to treatment.
Explain the short-term and long-term impact of this diabetes on patients including effects of drugs treatments.
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Diabetes and drug treatments
Diabetes is a medical condition characterized by either the body not responding to insulin hormone, or the hormone is produced in minimal amounts. It is important to note that the hormone is produced by the pancreases, and functioning in helping the body to store and use fat and sugar from the diet. There is no cure for the condition, with medical intervention focusing on disease management (Dunford & Doyle, 2015). There are three main types of the condition, differentiated by morphology and incidence. Diabetes and Drug Treatments Essay Paper
Type 1 (juvenile) diabetes is reported in approximately 9% of all diabetes incidence. It is reported among children and young adults. It is characterized by the pancreas having issues that either prevent it from producing insulin or produce very little amounts of the hormone. The result is that blood sugar either exceeds or becomes less than the normal levels. Patients report blurry vision, urinating frequently, fatigue, stomach ache, vomiting, nausea, excessive thirst, dry mouth and skin, and rapid breathing. Management occurs through insulin intake (Acton, 2013).
Type 2 diabetes is reported in approximately 90% of all diabetes incidence. It occurs among adults although there are some rare incidence reported among children. It is caused by either the pancreas not producing enough insulin or does not use insulin in the right manner. Patient present symptoms that include slow healing of cuts and sores, weight loss, darkened skin, blurred vision, fatigue, increased hunger, frequent urination, and excessive thirst. It can be prevented through maintaining a healthy lifestyle prior to the disease incidence. Management occurs through a healthy lifestyle that includes regular exercises and healthy diets. In addition, medication is required to maintain normal blood sugar levels (Katsilambros et al., 2011).
Gestational diabetes is responded in approximately 1% of all diabetes incidence. It occurs among pregnant women for the duration of the pregnancy will be cleared once the patient is no longer pregnant. During pregnancy, the body produces hormones that resist insulin action. This is addressed through increasing insulin production. The condition occurs when the pancreas does not produce additional insulin to address the resistance. The risk of the condition increased among obese and overweight women, especially if the weight was gained during the pregnancy. Once the condition has been reported, there is an increased risk of the individual developing type 2 diabetes in the future. Besides that, children whose mothers suffered from gestational diabetes during pregnancy also have a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes when they become adults. Once the condition has been diagnosed, management occurs through regular exercises and health eating, as well as checking blood sugar levels and taking insulin medication (Katsilambros et al., 2011). In this respect, diabetes can present in either of three forms as type 1 (juvenile), type 2 and gestational diabetes.
Metformin is used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. It is presented as oral medication (extended release tablets), 1000 mg to be taken once a day with the evening meal. The dosage can be increased to 2500 mg every day as the highest possible dose. The medication can also be presented as oral solution, administered as 5 ml twice daily or 8.5 ml once daily with means. The dosage cannot exceed 25.5 ml every day. For normal tablets, administration would occur as 500 mg of the medication presented with the morning and evening meals. Alternatively, it could be administered as 850 mg to be taken daily with the morning meal (Mayo Clinic, 2019). Metformin works by improving insulin sensitivity so that it is used more effectively. In fact, it reduces the amount of glucose absorbed by the body and increases insulin effect. In addition, it reduces the liver activity with regards to glucose production. It is important to note that using the drug could be accompanied by some side effects that include gas, heartburn, diarrhea, nausea, lactic acidosis, and hypoglycemia, although these side effects clear with increased use of the medication. When taking the medication, patients are recommended to have a healthy weight and be more active to support the drug action in controlling blood sugar level (Goldstein & Mueller-Wieland, 2016).
Type 2 diabetes occurs among adults and is caused by the body becoming less sensitive to insulin or low insulin production. It slowly develops over many years to result in darkened skin, frequent infections, slow healing, blurred vision, fatigue, increased hunger, frequent urination, and increased thirst. In addition, it is associated with side effects that include Alzheimer’s disease, skin condition, hearing impairment, foot damage, eye damage, nephropathy, neuropathy, and cardiovascular disease. Treating the condition would typically result in upset stomach and nausea as the most common side effects. Other medication side effects could include low blood sugar, weight gain, swollen ankles and legs, anemia, liver disease, diarrhea, bloating, gas, metal taste, dizziness, tiredness, kidney complications, itchiness, and skin rash. The side effects would typically clear over time and with increased use of the medication when the body becomes better used to the medication, although a change in medication and disease management can be recommended if the symptoms persist (Goldstein & Mueller-Wieland, 2016).
References
Acton, A. Q. (ed) (2013). Diabetic ketoacidosis: new insights for the healthcare professional – 2013 edition. Atlanta, GA: ScholarlyEditions.
Dunford, M. & Doyle, A. (2015). Nutrition for sport and exercise (3rd ed.). Stanford, CT: Cengage Learning.
Goldstein, B. J. & Mueller-Wieland, D. (2016). Type 2 diabetes: principles and practice (2nd ed.). Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.
Katsilambros, N., Kanaka-Gantenbien, C., Liatis, S., Makrilakis, K. & Tentolouris, N. (2011). Diabetic emergencies: diagnosis and clinical management. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley-Blackwell.
Mayo Clinic (2019). Metformin (oral route). Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/metformin-oral-route/proper-use/drg-20067074 . Diabetes and Drug Treatments Essay Paper
