Diabetes Mellitus And The Impact It Can Have On A Person...

Diabetes is one of they many health issues Americans face. If left untreated Diabetes can cause lasting effects on the person with the diagnosis. Close monitoring of blood glucose levels and patient teaching on management of the disease is critical in positive patient outcomes. Diabetes can cause major dysfunctions in several body systems and even death if left untreated. In this paper I will discuss diabetes Mellitus and the impact it can have on a person life and well-being. Diabetes Mellitus is a disease characterized by the body’s inability to secrete or produce insulin, insulin resistance, or excessive glucose secretion (Blair, 2016). There are two types of diabetes. Type one is an autoimmune disorder that destroys pancreatic cells†¦show more content†¦Risk factors for diabetes type 2 also have a strong genetic predisposition and may be caused by environmental factors such as viruses (Blair, 2016). The major risk factor for developing type 2 is obesity, especially in the abdominal area, and the instance of children developing the disease is on the rise (Blair, 2016). Other predisposing risk factors include low levels of HDL, a sedentary lifestyle, and polycystic ovary disease (Blair, 2016). Some studies have shown that having depression also increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes (Blair, 2016). The cardinal symptoms of diabetes are often dubbed the three P’s polyuria (excessive urination), polydipsia (increased thirst), and polyphasia (increased hunger). These symptoms appear when blood glucose levels become to high, and are caused by the effect of diabetes on the body (American Diabetes Association, 2015). If the level of glucose in the blood becomes too high, excess glucose is removed from the blood by the kidneys and excreted via the urine (glycosuria). This results in increased urine production. Water that is held in your cells is used to replace blood volume causing dehydration and increased thirst. Increased hunger occurs when the body