Diabetes

Question 1

What is type 1 diabetes?

Answer 1

The destruction of the beta cells in the pancreas that normally produce insulin, making the body unable to respond to an increased in blood glucose concentration.

This is because the pancreas makes little to no insulin.

Question 2

What does insulin do?

Answer 2

It helps blood sugar enter your cells for energy.

So without insulin this blood sugar builds up in the bloodstream.

Question 3

What causes type 1 diabetes?

Answer 3

The bodies immune system mistakenly destroying beta cells, which are insulin producing cells (islet cells) in the pancreas.

Question 4

How does high blood glucose affect the blood vessels of your nerves?

Answer 4

They damage the blood vessels of your nerves causing tingling and burning.

Question 5

What happens if your nerves in your digestive system are affected by high blood glucose?

Answer 5

Can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and constipation.

Question 6

Why must people with type 1 diabetes be careful when exercising?

Answer 6

Exercising affects blood glucose levels.

Question 7

What are symptoms of type 1 diabetes?

Answer 7

• thirst
• urinating a lot
• feeling hungry
• weight loss
• tired
• blurry vision

Question 8

What are ways of treating type 1 diabetes?

Answer 8

There is no cure for type 1 diabetes, so symptoms are relieved.

• injecting/pumping insulin
• counting carbs, fat and protein intake
• monitoring blood sugar
• exercise

Question 9

How do insulin injections treat type 1 diabetes?

Answer 9

Since your pancreas no longer makes insulin, you must inject it to control your blood glucose level.

It is injected subcutaneously multiple times a day, in your belly, the front of your thighs and the back of upper arms.

Question 10

How do insulin pumps treat type 1 diabetes?

Answer 10

It consists of an electronic device that delivers insulin through a cannula under the skin.

You attach the pump to your skin and insulin goes into your body through the tiny tube.

It will usually deliver small amounts for insulin all the time, but can also deliver a larger dose, if glucose levels are too high.

This needs to be replaced every 2-3 days and moved to a different part of the body.

Question 11

How does a change in diet and exercise help manage type 1 diabetes?

Answer 11

It helps to manage blood sugar levels.

Question 12

How does type 1 diabetes affect an individual?

Answer 12

Diabetes is a life long condition, which places a lot of responsibility upon the individual as they have to constantly manage their health and be more conscious than other may need to be. This has the potential to develop into anxiety.

Question 13

What is type 2 diabetes?

Answer 13

This is when your cells have insulin resistance, so your pancreas makes more insulin to try get the cells to respond.

Eventually, your pancreas cannot keep up, and your blood sugar rises setting the stage for pre-diabetes and type 2.

Question 14

What causes type 2 diabetes?

Answer 14

• being overweight
• inactive
• family history

Question 15

What are the symptoms of type 2 diabetes?

Answer 15

• urinating more
• thirst
• tiredness
• weight loss
• cuts and wounds take longer to heal
• blurred vision

Question 16

What are you at risk of developing if you have diabetes?

Answer 16

• heart problems
• nerve problems
• eye problems

Question 17

What are the treatments for type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes?

Answer 17

• eating well
• moving more
• metformin tablet
• insulin to lower blood sugar
• weight loss surgery

Question 18

What lifestyle changes can you make to manage type 2 diabetes?

Answer 18

• Eating a balanced diet
• staying active
• managing stress
• getting enough sleep

Question 19

How does metformin work to manage type 2 diabetes?

Answer 19

It decreases the amount of sugar produced by the liver, making the cells more responsive to insulin.

This is a tablet.

Question 20

What is gestational diabetes?

Answer 20

This is similar to type 2.

It occurs in about 2-10% of all pregnancies.

Blood glucose concentrations are elevated because the pancreas can’t produce enough insulin to meet the extra needs of the body during pregnancy.

It usually disappears after giving birth.

Question 21

What are the risk factors of gestational diabetes?

Answer 21

• Hormonal changes during pregnancy
• Obesity

Question 22

What does the absence of insulin lead to?

Answer 22

Hyperglycaemia, when blood glucose concentration rises above the normal or optimal level.

Question 23

What is hypoglycaemia?

Answer 23

When blood glucose concentration falls believe the normal or optional level.

This can lead to a coma or in severe cases, death.

Question 24

What can type 1 diabetes lead to?

Answer 24

• Ketoacidosis. In the absence of insulin, cells respire fats rather than glucose, producing toxic ketones.

• Hyperglycaemia

Question 25

What can type 2 diabetes lead to?

Answer 25

• Hyperglycaemia

Question 26

What can long term hyperglycaemia lead to?

Answer 26

Damage to the small blood vessels, particularly capillaries, leading to some of the long term complications of diabetes.

Question 27

What are the long term complications of diabetes?

Answer 27

• Diabetic retinopathy: caused by damage to the capillaries in the retina and is a leading cause of blindness in developed countries.

• Diabetic neuropathy: caused by damage to capillaries surrounding nerves, leading to weakness, numbness and pain. Nerve damage in the feet can increase the risk of damage to the feet and raised glucose levels can make cuts and sores slower to heal. This can lead to amputation if untreated.

• Diabetic kidney diseases: caused by damage to the capillaries in the glomerulus, leading to CKD.

• Risk of cardiovascular disease; about 75% of deaths in people with diabetes are due to CHD.

Question 28

How does diabetes affect mental health?

Answer 28

Twice as likely to have clinical depression.

Adolescence and young people with type 1 experience higher rates of distress and feelings of being unable to cope with the burden of living with diabetes.