Type 2 diabetes is a metabolic health disorder caused by the limited production of insulin by the pancreas. The disorder is characterized by high levels of glucose in the bloodstream caused by the failure of the body to maintain normal blood sugar levels. The body requires insulin to regulate the amount of glucose contained in the blood, hence maintaining the appropriate osmotic pressure of the blood constituents. Insulin is produced by particular cells known as Beta cells found in the pancreas. Stimulation of the beta cells causes them to secrete insulin the process of exocytosis. After secretion, the insulin diffuses out of the small clusters of beta cells known as islets and enters the bloodstream. Type 2 diabetes develops after body cells become resistant and fail to respond normally to the insulin hormone (Kahn, Cooper, " Del Prato, 2014). The body cells develop a problem of absorbing the right amount of glucose hence causing accumulation of glucose in the blood. There are no known symptoms of insulin resistance but there are indicators of the development of the condition such as lack of menstruation, lipodystrophy, and unexplained weight increase (DeFronzo et al., 2015). The major causes of insulin resistance include hereditary and lifestyle factors. Insulin resistance can be inherited from one generation to another through genes and can also be triggered by consumption of certain types of foods materials.
The reason for choosing to study type 2 diabetes is that it is a common type of medical problem in the modern society. Studying type 2 diabetes provides an insight into the pathogenesis of the health complication and the possible treatment methods. Also, understanding the disease involves deep research that provides information to both the researcher and the general public (Tangvarasittichai, 2015). Also, carrying out a research on type 2 diabetes helps the readers adjust their lifestyles to prevent the development of the diabetic conditions. Further, research on the topic helps me and other readers on understanding the different therapies used to treat type 2 diabetes and the associated health complications.
Anatomy and Physiology
Type 2 diabetes results from a combination of three factors which include limited secretion of insulin, the elevated requirement of insulin, and the resistance of body cells to the insulin hormone. The secretion of insulin is affected by the age factor as the level of production is low for aged individuals. The beta cells are able to regenerate to replace those that are old and worn out. However, the rate of regeneration of the beta cells decreases with age (Kieffer, 2016). The regeneration may be lost or fail completely in adults hence increasing their risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Also, the stimulation of the beta cells to secrete the insulin hormone is associated with the genetic structure of an individual. Low levels of insulin secretion are associated with reduced incretin effect. Incretin hormones include glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) (Leiter " Nauck, 2017). The effect of incretin hormones is to ensure that the beta cells produce the required amount of insulin. The production of the exact amount of insulin required by the body helps in eliminating excess glucose from the bloodstream, hence incretin helps in maintaining the osmotic balance. Impairment of the cells responsible for secreting incretin affects the control of glucose from the blood. Besides, low production of insulin by the pancreas is linked to deposition of the islet-associated amyloid peptide (IAPP). The deposition of the peptide-protein occurs inside and around the islets leading to clogging of the outlets hence allowing little insulin hormone to diffuse into the bloodstream (Montane " Novials, 2016). Deposition of IAPP is linked to an insoluble precipitation layer around the islets that compromises the functionality of the beta cells and diffusion of insulin. IAPP reduces the sensitivity of the beta cells to stimulation by the appropriate hormones hence little than necessary insulin is produced.
Insulin resistance contributes towards the development of the diabetic condition. The cells most affected by insulin resistance are found in the liver and skeletal muscles. Due to insulin resistance, many of the cells in the body do not utilize insulin appropriately and results in little absorption glucose. Accumulation of glucose in the bloodstream increases and is removed from the body by the kidney. The urine of the affected person contains glucose hence it has a sugary taste. Accumulated glucose in the bloodstream causes the osmotic imbalance between the blood in the vessels and body cells. Thus water is absorbed from the cells and tissue fluid to compensate the deficit of water in the blood (Patel et al., 2016). The condition causes the affected person to feel thirst frequently hence the intake of water is higher than normal. Water absorbed from the body cells increases the volume of the blood. The excess water is eliminated from the bloodstream by the kidney in form of urine to maintain the appropriate blood composition. Therefore, the affected person frequently urinates due to the excess water being removed from the bloodstream.
Clinical Considerations
Signs and Symptoms
There are various classic symptoms associated with type 2 diabetes such as frequent urination and increased intake of water due to extreme thirst. The affected person may feel hungry frequently due to poor absorption of glucose into the cells hence the deficit in energy required for cell functions. The hands of the patient may develop tickling sensations on the hands or feet. Besides, the affected individual feels tired even after doing little work and the number of yeast infections increase (Castonguay, Miquelon, " Boudreau, 2018). Also, the patient may develop the habit of becoming irritated easily and at the slightest provocation. Further, the patient may have a blurred vision and wounds that take a very long time before they heal (Fung, 2018).
Diagnosis
Type 2 diabetes can be diagnosed through various tests which include A1C test, fasting blood sugar test, random blood draws and analysis, and the glucose tolerance testing. The A1C test detects type 2 diabetes that has been present for a period of past 2 or 3 months. The A1C uses a percentage scale where the sample from the patient is measured to ascertain the specific value. The A1C values are within the range of 0 to 10 percent. An A1C value of less than 5.7 percent is termed as normal indicating that the patient has the right composition of glucose in the blood. A value within the range of 5.7 and 6.4 percent may show early stages of development of type 2 diabetes. An A1C value equivalent or more than 6.5 percent shows that the patient is diabetic (Dall et al., 2016). Fasting glucose test checks for the level of glucose in the blood before they have taken any food or drink (ADA, 2015). Normal levels are below 100 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL), while a value of between 100 and 125 mg/dL shows early stages of type 2 diabetes. A value of more than 126 mg/dL indicates that the patient is diabetic. Glucose tolerance test measures the level of blood sugar 2 hours after the patient has taken a sugary drink. A value of or below 140 mg/dL is termed as normal while a value of 200 mg/dL or more shows that the patient is diabetic (López-Soldado et al., 2015). Random blood draws is not frequently used but is used to confirm the already obtained results of being diabetic. Obtaining a value of 200 mg/dL in Random blood draws test confirms the diabetic condition.
Prognosis
Type 2 diabetes can be caused by hereditary factor where a gene is passed on to a child by the parent (Besseling et al., 2015). Other factors that contribute to the development of type 2 diabetes include high blood pressure, being obese, the release of excess glucose from the liver, and hormonal imbalance in the body where a series of reactions leads to the diabetic condition. According to a 2018 report by the American Diabetes Association (ADA), patients who have been diabetic for 2 years and have used insulin injection have a mortality rate that is approximately 4 times higher as compared to non-diabetics (ADA, 2018).
Treatments
The two types of treatment for type 2 diabetes include the use of medications and self-care. The medications include insulin injections, use of blood thinners, and intake of statin as well as anti-diabetic medication (Inzucchi " Kosiborod, 2017). Self-care includes carrying out of physical exercises, intake of a diabetic diet, losing of weight, nutritional counseling, and refraining from smoking (Bailey, 2015).
Opinion
In my opinion, I would recommend the adoption of self-care as the best method of treatment. Medications may have side effects and may become ineffective in the long-run. However, medications provide a quick fix for the diabetic condition. Self-care is important since it helps in rejuvenation of many body systems and processes, as well as the elimination of unwanted substances from the body. Despite the numerous advantages, self-care may be tiresome and may fail to fix the diabetic condition within a short period of time.
Conclusion
Type 2 diabetes is a disorder that can be managed but requires proper knowledge of the condition and access to the necessary tools for diagnosis. There are many causes of type 2 diabetes including hereditary factors, obesity, and hormonal imbalance. The major tests used to diagnose type 2 diabetes include the A1C test, fasting glucose test, random blood draws, and glucose tolerance test. Type 2 diabetes can be treated with the intake of medications or self-care. Comparing the two types of treatment, self-care is likely to produce long-term results hence can be adopted for the proper management of the diabetic condition.
References
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