Diabetes Is An All Inclusive Sugar Problem - 1550 Words

When one hears the term diabetic or diabetes, most people not associated with the medical field think of only one type or that diabetes is an all inclusive sugar problem. The reality of diabetes mellitus is both complicated and simple at the same time. There are two types of the disease that will usually cause either low blood sugar or high blood sugar: type 1 (juvenile-onset), and type 2 (adult-onset). The root issue with both is actually an insulin production problem. Type 1 is called insulin-dependent diabetes and it’s on set is usually in childhood. Type 2 is called non-insulin dependent diabetes, and it’s onset is typically later in life. Both types of diabetes can increase a person s risk for serious health complications.†¦show more content†¦As previously mentioned, symptoms for both type 1 and type 2 diabetes differ so the prehospital care will differ as well. We ll start with the most common form of diabetes: Type 2. According to the CDC, type 2 diabetes is responsible for 95% of all diabetic cases in the US. Although it is the most common, it is also the least understood as far as cause or how it s inherited. The pathophysiology behind it is, unlike people with type 1 diabetes, the bodies of people with type 2 diabetes are able to make insulin. But either their pancreas does not make enough insulin or the body cannot use the insulin well enough. When there isn t enough insulin or the insulin is not used properly, glucose can t get into the body s cells. When glucose builds up in the blood instead of going into cells, the body s cells are not able to function as they should. Though signs and symptoms sometimes differ from patient to patient, common problems associated with the buildup of glucose in the blood include hypertension, dyslipidemia, inflammation, hypercoagulation, and endothelial- cell dysfunction. Some of the life threatening disorders include, but are not limited to the following: Damage to the body. Over time, the high glucose levels in the blood can damage the nerves and small blood vessels of the eyes, kidneys, and heart and lead to atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries that can cause heart attack and stroke. Dehydration. The buildup of sugar