A Brief Note On Diabetes And Diabetic Patients

Homeostasis means keeping a constant internal environment in the body. Homeostasis reaches from every cell up to the whole of the organs and the systems.

Homeostasis is described as the body's ability to maintain internally stable conditions. Each organ plays a huge role in maintaining this stability.

Type One Diabetes, Juvenile Diabetes, or Diabetes Mellitus; an autoimmune disease affecting millions (about 3 million in the United States) causes the body’s own immune system to target and attack beta islet cells in the pancreas which are responsible for the production of insulin, an enzyme that lowers the concentration of glucose in the blood. A century ago, diabetes was a quick death sentence; we only found how to produce artificial insulin in the 1920’s, so before that, if a patient got diabetes, they had maybe a week or two at best before the state of hyperglycemia would shut down bodily functions. When a person does not produce or receive insulin, blood glucose concentration rises, which results in a large number of inconvenient effects immediately, but it also gradually causes internal damage, typically heavily damaging extremities, nerve endings, eyes, and kidneys first, as well as producing an enzyme called ketones, which causes extreme unhealthy weight loss. On the opposite end of the spectrum, sometimes diabetics, who have to manually give themselves insulin, can accidentally give themselves too much, resulting in hypoglycemic episodes, where the body does not have enough glucose and energy to function; in some cases, this can cause the shutdown of body systems and even a quick death. Dying in one’s sleep is a constant threat to type one diabetics, as glucose levels naturally drop while fasting. Additionally, this disease is a life-sentence that typically strikes

Diabetic coma (needs insulin) – pulse will be weak/rapid. Breathing will be deep/sighing. Skin will be flushed, dry, and warm. Breath odor will be like musty apple or nail polish. LOC will be gradual onset of unconsciousness. The person may be

People with diabetes have high blood sugar. This is because their pancreas does not make enough insulin or their muscle, fat, and liver cells do not respond to insulin normally, or both.

Homeostasis is the body’s way of maintaining a steady balance in the internal organs regardless of fluctuations in the external environment. Homeostasis is an important function in all humans and animals as keeping a stable environment requires constant adjustments as the environment changes. Homeostasis requires the coordination of both the endocrine (hormonal) and nervous systems; they regulate the body’s internal organs.

Diabetes mellitus, or better known as Diabetes, is an endocrine system disorder. In this case, your body is unable to produce enough or any insulin at all. Insulin, produced by the pancreas, has a very important role. When sugar is ingested from food, it is turned into energy for the cells in our body. Without insulin, the transfer of sugar into the cells would be compromised. Insulin is also vital to keep the right balance of sugar in the bloodstream (Hess-Fischl, 2015). If too much insulin is produced, blood sugar levels are decreased resulting in hypoglycemia. Hyperglycemia occurs when the blood sugar levels are increased (Sargis, n.d.).

In people who have diabetes, their bodies either no longer produce insulin or no longer respond to the insulin that is produced. As a result, blood sugar levels in the body can go dangerously high without proper diet, exercise and medication regulating these levels. When blood sugar levels in the body are

Diabetic Ketoacidosis(DKA) is from metabolism of fats and proteins with increasing ketones in the circulation(Huether & McCance, 2012). The loss of insulin activity increasing serum glucose levels due to hepatic glucose output and decreased glucose uptake. DK occurs in both type 1 and type 2, type 1 is due to lack of endogenous insulin. Type 2 occurs decreasing the insulin action due to infections, trauma, or increased stress, which can cause coma, due to the hyperosmolality ( McPhee & Hammer, 2010).

Diabetes is a condition where an individual does not produce enough or is not receptive to the vital hormone insulin. Without this hormone, the body is unable to access the energy obtained from food. Insulin acts as a messenger to cells, signaling them to accept and use glucose. Glucose is the body’s preferred source of fuel, and it is found in foods such as grain products, fruits, vegetables, and dairy. When insulin production slows or stops, glucose cannot enter cells to be used for energy, and instead remains in the blood. High blood glucose levels can cause damage to the nerves, internal organs such as the heart or the kidneys, and even the eyes and lower extremities.

In the event of diabetes, the body either does not make enough insulin or can not use its own insulin as well as it should. This eventually causes sugars to build up in the blood. This hyperglycemia usually leads to acute as well as chronic complications in the body.

This causes body to begin using fat as the main source of energy producing ketones. As the ketones build up in the blood they spill over into the urine and kidneys and can cause the person to lose consciousness or even die (American Diabetic Association, 1995-2011). Heart disease, retinopathy, neuropathy, bone, joint and kidney issue (to name a few) are other diabetic related condition that can result from uncontrolled blood sugar level. Therefore, it is extremely important for this student to control her blood glucose. She can do this by consuming the correct amount of calories (e.g. fat, carbohydrates, and protein) each day.

What is homeostasis? Homeostasis is the ability or tendency of an organism or cell to maintain internal equilibrium by adjusting its physiological processes. (McGraw-Hill) How does the body maintain homeostatic balance? Each organ system helps in some way to maintain homeostasis. However, the organ systems also work together to maintain a constant internal environment. There are seven organ systems (Integumentary, Musculoskeletal, Endocrine, Cardiovascular, Lymphatic, Respiratory, and Nervous) within the body. (McGraw-Hill)

Excessive alcohol or drugs, not managing your diabetes can raise the levels of substances in our body to toxic concentrations, interfering with the brain’s neuron function prompting a coma.

Homeostasis is what physiological systems in our bodies do in order to maintain a stable internal environment. Stability is held together by the coordinated responses of the components involved to any stress or unfamiliar situation that the human body is put under that could disrupt its normal functioning conditions. Homeostasis must be maintained constantly in order for our bodies to be able to function properly and not under stress which could have major effects later on in life.