Diabetes Mellitus Flashcards
what is diabetes mellitus?
a disease in which the body is no longer able to control its blood glucose concnetration properly
- leads to fluctuations in blood glucose concentrations: hyperglycaemia + hypoglycaemia
what are the 2 types of diabetes?
type I and type II
what is type I diabetes?
- autoimmune disease in which the beta cells of the pancreas are attacked by the immune system therefore they cant produce insulin
- after eating, blood glucose concentraion rises and remians high
- the kidneys cant reabsorb all the glucose, some of it is excreted in the urine
what is type 1 diabetes caused by and what is the treatment
no one knows what causes the immune system to attack beta cells but regular monitoring of blood glucose concentration together with regular injections of insulin are required
what is type II diabetes?
occurs when beta cells dont produce enough insulin or the target cells become less responsive to insulin due to insulin receptors on plasma membranes not working properly
what are risk factors on type II diabetes?
- lack of exercise
- obesity
- poor diet
- family history
- ethnic origin
is there treatment for type II diabetes
- it can be initially controlled by diet, losing weight and regular exercise
- glucose lowering medication can be taken if diet and exercise cant control it
- eventually insulin injections may be needed
what is the response of health advisors to the increasing number of people affected by type II diabetes in UK
to reduce the risk of Type II diabetes, health advisors recommend that people eat a diet thats:
- low in fat, sugar and salt
- plenty of whole grains, fruit and vegetables
- take regular exercise
- lose weight if necessary
campaigns like the NHS’s “change for life” aim to educate poeple on how to have a healthier diet and lifestyle, and so reduce their risk of developing conditions like Type II diabetes. Health advisors have also challenged the food industry:
- to reduce advertising of junk food
- to improve the nutritional value of their products
- to use clearer labelling on products, allowing consumers to make healthier choices about waht to buy
what is the response of food companies to health advisors?
- some food companies have attempted to make products more healthy, eg using sugar alternatives to sweeten food and drinks, and reducing the sugar, fat and salt content of products
- using clearer labelling on products
why are food companies rekuctant to develop new healthier alternatives?
because this costs a lot of money and the unhealthier options are more popular and generate more profit
how can diabetes be tested using urine
if it is suspected that a person has diabates, a doctor may request a smaple of their urine is tested for glucose
- normally glucose concentrations in urine is very low
- higher concentrations may indicate diabetes
however, a patient needs a blood test to confirm prognosis
