type 2 diabetes

Question 1

type 1 diabetes

Answer 1

• when body cannot make any insulin
• occurs in children, adolescents, and young adults though can occur at any age.
• known as insulin dependant diabetes

Question 2

type 2 diabetes

Answer 2

• when insulin producing cells are unable to produce enough insulin, or when the insulin that is produced does not work properly (insulin resistance)
• tends to develop gradually as people get older, usually after the age of 40
• know as non-insulin dependant diabetes

Question 3

causes

Answer 3

• we all need insulin in to live - it allows glucose in our blood to enter our body calls and this fuels are body
• when you have t2 diabetes, the body still breaks down carbohydrates from food and drinks and turns into glucose
• the pancreas responds to this by releasing insulin but because the insulin doesn’t work properly, the blood sugar levels keep rising. when this happens more insulin is released
• for some people with t2 diabetes, this can eventually tire the pancreas out
• this means their body makes less and less insulin
• this leads to even higher blood sugar levels and places you at risk of hypoglycaemia

Question 4

symptoms of type 2 diabetes

Answer 4

• going to the toilet a lot, especially at night
• being really thirsty
• feeling more tired than usual
• losing weight without trying to
• cuts and wounds take longer to heal
• blurred vision

Question 5

risk factors

Answer 5

• risk increases with age
• a person is 2 to 6 times more likely to get t2 diabetes if they have a parent, brother, sister, or child with diabetes
• a person is more at risk if they ever had high blood pressure
• higher risk of t2 diabetes if a person is carrying extra weight, especially if it is around the middle
• smoking is higher risk

Question 6

what is hypoglycaemia

Answer 6

• blood sugar levels drop too low
• many older adults take multiple drugs, some of which directly cause hypoglycaemia, and some of which may interact with diabetes drugs to cause hypoglycaemia
• older adults may also be more likely to have poor appetites and miss meals therefore leading to hypoglycaemia

Question 7

physical effects of t2 diabetes

Answer 7

• high blood sugar levels can seriously damage eyes, feet and heart, known as the complications of diabetes
• eyesight - diabetic retinopathy, caused by high blood sugar levels damaging the back of eye (retina). can cause blindness if left undiagnosed and untreated
• diabetic neuropathy - nerve damage caused by diabetes. over time, hbsl can damage the small vessels which supply the nerves to your body. this prevents essential nutrients reaching the nerves, as a result the nerve fibres can become damaged, and they may disappear. it can affect different types of nerves in your body, causing numbness, pain or tingling.

Question 8

social effects of type 2 diabetes

Answer 8

• relationships with family and friends = for someone with t2 diabetes they need to be careful with regards to food choice which then can impact on the meals prepared for the rest of the family. also, if the older person is unable to check blood sugars or prepared suitable diabetic friendly food this can create a burden on other family members, because they may be responsible for looking after them
• implications when socialising with others = due to an increased risk of hypoglycaemia, older adults may worry about socialising with others in case their blood sugar levels drop too low, resulting in hypoglycaemic symptoms eg feeling weak, dizzy, agitated, headaches, feeling sick, loss of balance
• some people who have a. new diagnosis may find the management of diabetes difficult to understand which can make it harder to keep within their diabetic guidelines causing their blood sugar to spike or fall. they may avoid socialising as they don’t want to feel different to others, leading to feelings of loneliness
• adjusting to less alcohol at social gatherings can be difficult for some however, as alcohol can lower blood sugar levels, it also has the potential to increase them. regular, long-term use of alcohol has been shown to increase insulin resistance. they may therefore avoid socialising with friends as they feel uncomfortable not being able to drink with their friends
• impact on hobbies and leisure actives = due to the fact that physical activity lowers blood sugar levels, this can affect an individuals choice of hobby once enjoyed. furthermore, if blood sugar levels are not carefully maintained the older person may feel to unwell to partake in leisure activities.

Question 9

psychological effects of type 2 diabetes

Answer 9

• may experience diabetes-related emotional distress. symptoms; constantly worrying about blood glucose levels, worrying about risk of complications, feeling angry about living with diabetes, feeling guilty when going off track with manage diabetes self-care.
• up to 3 times more likely to report symptoms of depressing, yet less than 15% of people have access to psychological support
• poor mental and emotional well-being can lead to feeling less inclined to monitor blood glucose levels, impacting on self-management and diabetes control
• depressed due to diabetes often feel lethargic and so are less likely to exercise
• diet is affected with less healthy foods and more alcohol being consumed, can lead to low self esteem the next day from regret. this is often due to blood sugars spiking in response to the foods an drinks consumed
• sleep, which can have a serious impact on overall quality of life
• low self-esteem - recently diagnosed with type 2 may be unsure how to manage it. they may lose their confidence in themselves because they feel embarrassed if they have to check their blood glucose levels, especially when socialising.
• anxiety - may have anxiety about having a hypoglycaemic attack.
• lose of autonomy - an individual may feel angry about their diabetes diagnosis and frustrated about the demands of managing it