Types of Diabetes Discussion
Post a brief explanation of the differences between the 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. Be sure to include dietary considerations related to treatment. Then, explain the short-term and long-term impact of this type of diabetes on patients. including effects of drug treatments. Be specific and provide examples.
There are four types of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes results when the body produces little or no insulin. Type 2 diabetes results when the body fails to optimally utilize the insulin it produces, i.e., insulin resistance (Pontarolo, et al., 2015). Third is gestational diabetes, which consists of high blood glucose in the course of pregnancy and affects both the child and the mother. Juvenile diabetes, also termed pre-diabetes, is the fourth type. Juvenile diabetes results when the level of blood glucose becomes higher than normal. However, the blood glucose level is not high enough for a person to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes, which occurs from insulin resistance and insulin deficiency, affects majority of people. The complications associated with type 2 diabetes include neuropathy, heart disease, blindness, and kidney damage. To treat type 2 diabetes, oral drugs are administered (Reusch & Manson, 2017). For example, alpha-glucosidase inhibitors, mainly acarbose and miglitol. These medications help the body break down table sugar and starchy foods. They work best if taken before meals. In the case of acarbose, the initial dose for a Type 2 diabetes patient should be 25mg orally three (3) times per day. Similarly, 25 mg orally three times per day is recommended for miglitol drugs.
For a type 2 diabetes patient, who is taking alpha-glucosidase inhibitors, dietary control is vital. The recommended foods to each include complex carbohydrates like fruits, beans, brown rice, vegetables, whole wheat, and lentils (Ley et al., 2014). Simple carbohydrates such as pasta, cookies, white bread, sugar, and cookies must be avoided. It is also recommended that type 2 diabetes victims take drugs before meals.
The short-term effects of type 2 diabetes on patients include hyperosmolar hyperglycaemic nonketotic syndrome (HHNS) and hypoglycemia, i.e., very low blood glucose (Pontarolo, et al., 2015). Also, the drugs used to treat type 2 diabetes pose short-term effects on the victims, for example, loss of appetite, muscle cramping, tiredness, diarrhea, abdominal discomfort, and more. On the other hand, diabetic retinopathy, macro-vascular strains, nephropathy (kidney disease), and diabetic neuropathy are the long-term impacts of type 2 diabetes (Reusch & Manson, 2017).
References
- Ley, S. H., Hamdy, O., Mohan, V., & Hu, F. B. (2014). Prevention and Management of Type 2 Diabetes: Dietary Components and Nutritional Strategies. The Lancet, 99-107. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(14)60613-9
- Pontarolo, R., Sanches, A. C., Wiens, A., Perlin, C., Tonin, F. S., Borba, H. L., & da Silva, P. S. (2015). Pharmacological treatments for type 2 diabetes. Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes, 147.
- Reusch, J. E., & Manson, J. E. (2017). Management of type 2 diabetes in 2017: Getting to goal. Jama, 317(10), 1015-1016.