Diabetes Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Diabetes - Essay Example It was observed that the patient was obese. It was reported that he suffered Head and neck-mild bleeding of gums with tooth brushing. The patient’s chest and abdominal examination was conducted. It was found that his chest and abdominal examinations were normal. The patient was not suffering from any genital problems. At his feet his skin was dry with calluses on the medial side of the big toes. The nails of the patient were normal. His pulses measured were strong and equal. Sensation was normal to 10g monofilament. History of Present Illness Alvin Floyd began to feel weak and fatigued two months ago. Very little work tired him. He used to urinate two to three times at night. The patient admitted that he feels thirsty more than usual and whenever he feels thirsty he drinks a glass of water. The patient had been a member of football team at his school. His weight was normal throughout his school life. After leaving school, gradually he weight gradually increased. Although his a ppetite was healthy and nutritious but now he was losing weight. Alvin Floyd often suffered from pain in his feet. He felt as if the pain was burning his feet and sometimes his toes felt numb. The tingling and numbness in his fingers was causing obstructions at his work. His vision was blurry sometimes especially in the afternoons. Past History Alvin Floyd never suffered from any chronic illness. He had surgical removal of the vermiform appendix in 1972. He had not visited his dentist since 6 years. Both parents of the patient were dead. A huge stroke was the cause of his father’s death when he was 69 years of age. His mother had been found to be a patients suffering from diabetes when she was 48 years old. She died at age 62 from end-stage kidney disease. His weight was 10 lb 2 oz at birth. Both of his parents and his siblings are overweight. Among his siblings two are diabetic. Social History and Habits At present, the patient is married father of three adult children. He i s not a smoker but drinks beer occasionally. He does not make medicines, nutritional supplements or herbal remedies. Diabetes Definition and/or description of diabetes Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disease. The condition of hyperglycemia in diabetes results into defects in the secretion of insulin, action of insulin, or both. Further effects include long-term damage, dysfunction, and failure of the pancreas, eyes, heart, blood vessels, nerves, and kidneys (Medicine Net, 2011). Pancreas   The pancreas is the organ responsible for producing insulin. Islets of Langerhans are tiny tissues found inside the pancreas. There number is around 100, 000. The islets constitutes a variety of cells. Beta cells manufacture the insulin also store it until the body has a need for the insulin. (Bashoff & Beaser, 1995). The pancreas also produce a hormone called glucagon responsible for elevating blood sugar. Insulin and glucagon keep the blood sugars within a normal range. Destruction of beta ce lls leads to decreased amount of insulin in the body (Kahn, 2003). Eyes   Diabetes is responsible for blurry visions. Once a person gets diagnosed with diabetes and he begins treatment, blurry vision corrects itself in a matter of a few weeks, provided the person keeps his blood sugar under control. Retinopathy is one of the most serious eye problems