A Short Note On Diabetes And Adult Onset Diabetes

As of 2014 an estimated 30 million people in the United States alone have diabetes; out of this diabetic population about 95% have type 2 diabetes, also known as adult-onset diabetes (Infographics, 2014). Unlike type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes may be preventable. Type 2 diabetes isn’t only seen in adults, this disease is becoming more relevant in children as child obesity increases (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2014, p. [Page #1]). If not detected or controlled many complications can occur such as, â€Å"accelerated development of cardiovascular disease, end-stage renal disease, loss of visual acuity, and limb amputations† (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2014, p. [Page #1]). Pathophysiology Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas.†¦show more content†¦Most people who suffer from obesity have plasma levels with elevated free fatty acids (FFAs). As Mandal stated, FFAs cause insulin resistance in skeletal muscle and the liver. A group of individuals (Lam TKT, Yoshii H, Haber A, Bogdanovic Lam L, Fantus G, Giacca A) conducted a study addressing hepatic insulin resistance caused by FFAs. In this environmentally controlled study, adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were infused with lipid/heparin. Results of this study show an increase in FFAs and insulin resistance (Boden, 2005). Manifestations Signs and symptoms of this disease can be insidious and go unnoticed, therefore unknowingly having this disease for a significant amount of time; such as years. Some of these signs and symptoms are polydipsia, polyuria, increased appetite, fatigue, blurred vision, slow healing sores, frequent infections, darkened areas of skin, and weight loss (Type 2 Diabetes, 2014). Excessive sugar build up in the blood stream extracts fluids from the tissues leading to excessive thirst (polydipsia) followed by excessive urination (polyuria). Since the sugar isn’t being moved into the cells, the cells lack energy. Simply, the cells are starving and your body is trying to compensate for your cells causing increased hunger. The lack of energy the cells have can cause fatigue in a type 2 diabetic patient. Blurred vision is a symptom due to once again, the excessive sugar