Understanding Diabetes: Types, Causes and Consequences

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Diabetes is a disease that is one of the most leading causes that affects blindness, kidney disease and leg or foot amputations (Rosdahl, 2012). In the U.S 29.1 million people have been diagnosed with diabetes and 8.1 million people with diabetes who are undiagnosed (American Diabetes Association, 2015). There are 3 types of diabetes all in which lead to an increase in blood sugar.
Diabetes type I also know as insulin dependent diabetes mellitus or juvenile diabetes it is an autoimmune disorder possibly caused by a viral infection. Therefore the beta cells in the pancreas which are responsible for the production of insulin are destroyed. Insulin is a hormone that helps lower blood sugar also known as blood glucose by allowing glucose to pass …show more content…

Hypoglycemia is also known as low blood sugar that can be caused by excess insulin, too much exercise, drinking a lot of alcohol on an empty stomach or a decrease in food intake. Signs and symptoms that occur with hypoglycemia are mild shakiness, mental confusion, sweating, palpitations, headache, lack of coordinations, blurred vision ,seizures and coma. When experiencing hypoglycemia blood glucose is 300 also leading to a buildup of ketones in the blood and urine. DKA is usually related a lack of insulin by untreated or undiagnosed type 1 diabetes. when DKA is present signs and symptoms are high blood sugar, hyperkalemia/ polyuria/ tachycardia/ hypotension/ acidosis/ polydipsia/ polyphagia/ kussmaul respirations and fruity breath. People who have type 2 diabetes are most likely to experience HHS also known as hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state or hyperglycemic hyperosmolar non-ketotic syndrome. This condition is also a life threatening complication caused by a high increase in blood glucose >600. Signs and symptoms that occur with HHS are polyuria/ polydipsia/ blurred vision/ headache/ orthostatic hypertension and no presence of ketones in the urine (Healthline, 2015). Treatment for HHS is similar to DKA, administer iv fluids (0.9% sodium chloride) for dehydration, iv insulin which is the quickest and most rapid way of treatment and administer potassium to help treat with hypokalemia (Healthline,

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