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RUNNING HEAD: DISEASE

Type 1 Diabetes

Carrie Gray

January, 12, 2009

Instructor: Bhatt

Individual project_1_BIO142-0901A-04

Colorado Technical University Online

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Abstract

Diabetes affects millions every year, and how you treat and control your diabetes is all up

to you, the food we eat provides our cells throughout our body with energy, taken from the foods,

if we don’t have the energy, our cells will die, so everyone needs insulin. There different types of

diabetes, such as; mellitus, Type 2 diabetes, and Gestational diabetes.

Diabetes Defined

Diabetes mellitus or also known as; sugar diabetes, Type 1 diabetes or juvenile or insulin-
MFMER, (2009). Diabetes. Retrieved January 13, 2009, from
dependent diabetes, “is when the body can't use glucose (sugar) normally”Mayo
(TheFoundation
Nemours for Medical Education and

Research
Foundation, 2009) or it doesn’t make it at all. The human body uses glucose Web site: Type
for energy. 1 diabetes -
Insulin,
MayoClinic.com
a chemical hormone made by the pancreas, controls the levels in

your blood, and to aid in the entry to the cells, insulin makes this

task easier. Type 2 diabetes may not need insulin.

When the pancreas do not make enough insulin, the body

can't respond normally to the insulin that is made, so the sugar levels

rise and this to symptoms such as urinating more often (heavier then

usual), really thirsty, and losing weight unexpectedly.

Who is at Risk?

Anyone is at risk, family history; if someone else in your family has or had it, such as

your parents, brothers or sisters, but it not contagious.

Causes, Complications, and Treatments

The exact cause is unknown. Genetics, viruses, and autoimmune problems may play a role. Type

1 diabetes usually requires insulin injection treatments daily, more than once a day, oral

medications diet (watching your weight), by eating smaller, healthier meals more often and

exercise (helps lower glucose levels), and keeping a close eye or monitoring your levels through
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test that can be given by the patient them self, and if patients do not keep a check on their levels,

complications can occur such as nerve and blood vessel damage, or known as diabetic

neuropathy, which usually happens to the nerves and vessels of the feet and lower legs. The

symptoms are numbness and feeling cold.

Patients with diabetes have poor sensation in their feet, so proper care is very important to

prevention of injury. Nerve damage can happen in other areas as well, such as the sexual organs

in both men and women. In men impotence or erection problems can result from nerve damage

in the sexual organs, and in women damage can occur in the pelvic area causing less arousal and

painful intercourse.

Other nerves and vessels may be affected also, these include; vessels in the heart, vascular

disease, caused by high blood sugar levels, the kidneys, and the eyes (diabetic retinopathy)

swelling of the retina, when the vessels in the eyes become too weak, become blocked or leak

into the eyes, causing cloudiness. The immune system is also affected, making fighting off

infections even harder, these infections include; “Infections of the skin, female genital tract, and

urinary tract”. nlm.nih.gov, (2009).

The heart
and Stomach Liver Pancreas
vessels;
vascular
disease
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(Toltech, 2007)

Symptoms

Symptoms in diabetes include; nausea, weight loss, itching

skin and slow healing skin, tiredness, feeling thirst all the time,

urinating more, feeling hungry more, pain in the abdomen, and

blurry vision. If the symptoms go untreated a coma and death may happen.

MFMER, (2009). Diabetes. Retrieved January 13, 2009, from Mayo

Foundation for Medical Education and Research Web site:

Type 1 diabetes - MayoClinic.com

Prevention and Tests

Diabetes cannot be prevented, but there are options for slowing, and controlling it by

keeping it at a normal range. Regular checks include; blood pressures, check your glycosylated

hemoglobin and cholesterol levels, triglyceride levels, kidneys, and have your doctor check your

feet, teeth and gums. Get a Flu shot yearly and all other vaccinations needed. See your doctor for

a blood test; 1. Fasting blood glucose, no food or liquids= glucose levels are measured in your

blood. 2. Random (non-fasting) blood glucose= measurement of blood glucose level. 3. Oral

glucose tolerance test= glucose tolerance test.

Doctors can also test your urine for amounts of sugar found. Daily tests by sticking your

finger with a lancet will help monitor your levels, because too much sugar can lead to

hyperglycemia (too many sugary foods), and when there is not enough sugar in the blood is can

lead to hypoglycemia, and is brought on by too much medicated insulin, or skipping meals,

eating less, and exercising too much. These conditions can cause fainting and seizures if not
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treated. Other treatment option are; insulin pump= on the outside of body with a catheter inserted

under the skin of your abdomen, that administers insulin automatically. There are many types of

insulin such as; Humulin R, Novolin R, lispro, and insulin glargine, doctors may also subscribe

pramlintide, and aspirin.

Conclusion

The only potential cure for type 1 diabetes is a pancreas transplant, but research is being

done on many other areas such as; Islet cell transplant, cells in the pancreas that make insulin,

and stem cell research; stem cells made from their own blood. To have a long happy life, always

monitor your blood sugar levels, stop smoking or don’t be around anyone who does, no alcohol,

if you’re stressed, relax and see your doctor.

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References

MFMER, (2009). Diabetes. Retrieved January 13, 2009, from Mayo Foundation for Medical

Education and Research Web site: Type 1 diabetes - MayoClinic.com

nlm.nih.gov, (2009). Diabetes. Retrieved January 13, 2009, from nlm.nih.gov Web site: Medline

Plus - Search Results for: Diabetes

The Nemours Foundation, (2009). Diabetes Mellitus. Retrieved January 13, 2009, from

kidshealth.org Web site: Definition: Diabetes Mellitus

Touch of Life Technologies. (2007).Toltech; Aurora, Colorado. VH Dissector Lite Version 4.5.2

[CD ROM]. www. Toltech.net