Diabetes Mellitus

Question 1

What is diabetes?

Answer 1

• a chronic disease characterised by high levels of glucose in the blood

Question 2

What are the specifics of type 1 diabetes?

Answer 2

• insulin-dependent
• tiredness
• production of large quantities of dilute urine containing glucose
• great thirst due to loss of so much liquid

Question 3

What causes type 1 diabetes?

Answer 3

• auto-immune disease
• as the body’s immune system destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas

Question 4

What does type 1 diabetes result in?

Answer 4

• pancreas does not make insulin
• glucose remains in the blood instead of moving into the cells
• condition known as hyperglycaemia

Question 5

How can type 1 diabetes be treated?

Answer 5

• daily injections of insulin
• (test blood sugar levels frequently so that the correct amount of insulin can be injected)

Question 6

What are the short-term effects of not treating type 1 diabetes with insulin injections?

Answer 6

• extreme thirst
• nausea
• vomiting
• dehydration
• dizziness
• coma

Question 7

What are the long-term goals of treating type 1 diabetes with insulin injections?

Answer 7

• prolong life
• reduce symptoms
• prevent diabetes-related complications

Question 8

What are some of the complications associated with diabetes?

Answer 8

• blindness
• kidney failure
• amputation of limbs
• increased risk of heart attack and stroke

Question 9

What are the specifics of type 2 diabetes?

Answer 9

• non-insulin-dependent
• directly influenced by lifestyle

Question 10

What causes type 2 diabetes to develop?

Answer 10

• when the body produces less insulin or is not able to use the insulin correctly
• may be due to insulin resistance

Question 11

What is insulin resistance?

Answer 11

• a condition characterised by faulty insulin receptors on the cells that normally aid in the transport of glucose into body cells

Question 12

What factors increase the chance of developing type 2 diabetes?

Answer 12

• a diet high in carbohydrates, fast foods and over-processed food (leading to obesity)
• lack of exercise
• increasing age

Question 13

How can type 2 diabetes be treated?

Answer 13

• following a diet high in healthy fats and low in carbohydrates
• losing weight and regular exercise