Challenges Of A Chronic Illness

Type 1 diabetes, is an incurable but treatable disease which can occur at any age but is mostly found in children due to the high levels of glucose in the blood (Eckman 2011). Juvenile diabetes affects about 1 in every 400-600 children and more than 13,000 are diagnosed yearly (Couch 2008). Type 1 Diabetes means your blood glucose, or blood sugar, is too high. With Type 1 diabetes, your pancreas does not make insulin. Insulin is a hormone, which helps glucose gets into your cells to provide energy. Without insulin, too much glucose stays in your blood. Over time, high blood glucose can lead to serious problems with your heart, eyes, kidneys, nerves, gums and teeth (American Diabetes Association). Previous research has suggested proper

According to the United States Library of Medicine, diabetes is a disease that occurs when the body does not make or use insulin correctly, therefore causing fluctuating amounts of glucose in the blood. Diabetes is a disease that affects millions of adults and children from various cultures. According to the American Diabetes Association (2014), someone is diagnosed with diabetes every 19 seconds. The Center of Disease Control and Prevention most recent statistical report indicated there were 29.1 million adults and children affected by diabetes. Those numbers are astounding. Unfortunately, the American Diabetes Association (2014) estimates by year of 2050, one out of three adults will have diabetes. Therefore, it is imperative that adults take aggressive measures to prevent this disease. By the same token, diabetes diagnosed in children and adolescent is becoming more prevalent every day. The American Diabetes Association (2014) reported there were about 216, 00 children in the United States with diabetes. It is predicted that one out three children will be diagnosed with diabetes in their life. The statistics for both adults and children with diabetes are frightening; however, early detection can help lower the risk of developing the debilitating effects of diabetes.

I have been naïve to an epidemic that has been plaguing America for quite some time now. It wasn’t talked about or taught much when I was younger. I thought that this disease was for the geriatric population. In 2012, 29.1 million Americans were diagnosed with diabetes. 8.1 million went undiagnosed. (diabetes.org) Diabetes is a dilemma and the statistics for this disease is rising steadily. Per the diabetes association there are 1.4 million of new cases of diabetes a year. Diabetes is the 7th leading cause of death in the united states of America. Diabetes is not affecting only one group of people. Diabetes.org states that 208,000 Americans under the age of 20 have been diagnosed with diabetes. In 2014 I started a new job at a call center. Prior to this occupation I had never personally, that I knew of interacted closely with anyone suffering from this disease. I had never heard of the younger population developing this illness and I certainly never heard any first-hand accounts on how diabetes affected the body. I discovered just how prevalent diabetes were in young adults. I watched people between the ages of 20-27 be afflicted by this disease. They had to constantly watch their diet to ensure that their blood glucose wasn’t either too high or too low. I watched a 20-year-old female be in and out of the hospital because of this disease. I hope to inform this reader of the dangers of this disease and what to do to prevent it.

For this assignment, I interviewed a thirty-two year old African American male with type-one diabetes. I learned having this particular disease is difficult to manage; nutritious eating, exercise, watching their disorder, taking medication and reducing their risk for problems are usually part of your their day-to-day routine. It seems that all of this is pretty overwhelming and there are two main types of diabetes (type-one and type-two). This particular illness distresses your body’s capability to generate or use insulin. Insulin is a hormone. When your body turns the food you eat into energy, it’s usually referred to as glucose or sugar. If you produce little or no insulin, or are insulin resistant, too much sugar rests in your blood. Blood glucose levels are greater than standard for individuals with diabetes. The cause of diabetes is unknown. Genetics, diet, obesity and lack of exercise may play a role in developing diabetes, specifically in cases of type-two diabetes.

Imagine what life would be like having a shot every day to control a person’s sugar level.Mr.Whisler is sixty-one years old and he retired from Bryan middle school. He was a science teacher.Mr.Whisler likes to travel, he has a wife, has 2 adult sons, and he also does photography. Mr. Whisler is a person with Diabetes and he has a story that is inspiring. Type one Diabetes is a lifelong illness that requires daily treatment.

Children are unable to make sound decisions when it comes to health care; they need a responsible guardian to help manage their new disease and learn how to accommodate diabetes on a daily basis. Children need help when deciding what foods to eat when battling uncontrolled blood glucose levels, they may, depending on their age need long term assistance with glucose checks and subsequent insulin administration; all of these treatment plans fall on the shoulders of their families. It is clear that families of children with Type I Diabetes need nursing support throughout the lifespan. Merkel and Wright (2012) found that parents often feel as if their support systems diminish after a chronic diagnosis; therefore, while learning the complexities of caring for a diabetic child, families should also utilize professional support systems to develop and enhance healthy coping. Nurses can be one of those support systems. As first line health care professionals, Registered Nurses can assess

Diabetes is a metabolic disorder that can affect multiple system of the body that range from the urinary system to the nervous system. The effects of such a diseases can be very detrimental on an individual life. Individuals that develop such a disease require tons of medications, exercise and a very drastic change in diet that might eliminate certain foods. Although there are no cures for such a disease different types of medication can be used ranging from pill form to insulin injections. Diabetes also comes with many negative symptoms that drain the bodies physically and mentally. There are 3 types of diabetes that are very dissimilar when it comes to cause, treatment and symptoms. Awareness for such a disease can be a very important aspect that must be taken in to consideration to avoid the development of this disorder and in this

Imagine you wake up in the morning to go to school, but before you can eat breakfast you have to check your blood sugar. It’s almost lunch time, you have to leave class early and go to the bathroom because you have to check your blood sugar. This time you have to give yourself insulin because that waffle you had at breakfast skyrocketed your number. Before you go on your dinner date, you have to check your blood sugar. This is a typical day for someone living with diabetes, constantly checking your blood sugar before every meal and sometimes giving yourself a shot of insulin when needed. There are multiple types of diabetes an individual could have which changes how it is treated. Life with Type 1 Diabetes is easier to adjust to than life

Type I Diabetes was once referred to as Juvenile Diabetes or Insulin Dependent type Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM). Type 1 diabetes, is an incurable but treatable disease which can occur at any age but is mostly found in children. Couch et al. (2008) states, “Juvenile diabetes affects about 1 in every 400-600 children and more than 13,000 are diagnosed yearly” (pg. 1). A 2014 CDC fact sheet concerning diabetes, showed that, “In adults, type 1 diabetes accounts for approximately 5% of all diagnosed cases of diabetes in the United States.” It seems that we all know someone who is affected by diabetes; either type 1 or type 2. Diabetes seems to be such a common-place illness and is much more prevalent in today’s society. However, this hasn’t always been the case. Gale (2002), states, “At the start of the 20th century, childhood diabetes was rare… (pg. 3353).” In this paper, I will provide information about Juvenile or Type I diabetes in order to educate the reader about this illness.

Every year, 15,000 children and 15, 000 adults are diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes (T1D), which totals to 30,000 people. In the United States, as many as 3 million people have T1D. T1D is managed with insulin throughout the day. Some warning signs of T1D include extreme thirst, frequent urination, drowsiness, sudden weight loss, fruity odor on the breath and especially sugar in urine (Type 1 Diabetes Facts). You never know, three million is a giant number that you, or someone you know, could be included in. Type 1 diabetes makes for a totally new lifestyle that calls for constant acknowledgement, with no cure so far; however, you can still live a full and active life by becoming more aware of the disease.

Many who live in poverty and have a chronic illness are often faced with the consequence of not having their illness treated because of the incurring medical costs of treating a chronic disease and being viewed as non-compliant. This leads to costly emergency room visits that could have been preventable if the necessary medical treatment had been utilized. Many hospitals and physicians are currently screening patients that may need additional resources to pay for medications, need transportation for appointments, nutrition, and housing. Communities may elect to apply for government funded health centers to help address this gap. Hospitals are also partnering with community-based organizations to help the patient receive the resources needed

In today’s world, parents have an abundance of worries when it comes to their children. Drugs, bad grades, and pre marital sex are just some things that may plague a parent with sleepless nights. But even on the worst of those nights of worry, most parents can’t imagine that their child could face an illness. Not just a runny nose or seasonal flu, but an illness that would affect their child throughout his or her entire life. Diabetes is a disease without a cure, and one that more, and more children have to live with.

One of the major public health problems facing Australia today is Asthma. It is disturbing that there has been an apparent increase in its prevalence and severity, and increased rates of hospital admissions. (E.J.Comino, 1996) For the diagnosed patient, the degree to which he or she suffers is related to severity of the condition, compliance with recommendations by medical experts, the immediate environment and the effectiveness of education programs.

Diabetes is a major problem in our society today. Many people have heard about the disease; however, they do not know too much about its complications. Diabetes is a chronic, progressive and lifelong condition that affects the body’s ability to use the energy found in food (WebMD, 2016). Many new cases are confirmed every year and unfortunately, many go undiagnosed for years. Diabetes is a serious disease and need to be taking seriously. The disease can lead to many other health problems such as blindness, nerve damage and kidney diseases. The more the community understand and made aware of the seriousness of the disease, the better it can be control and or prevented.

Ms. Jones has a both acute and chronic illness which makes her situation more complex. The acute conditions have a great potential to be reversed; she has a critical hemoglobin (Hgb) level of 6.4 g/dl, a major infection and a left gangrenous extremity that requires emergent care. Treatment of the acute condition may be complicated by her chronic condition of diabetes. Immediate care is required to avoid the spread of the infection and a further decline in her Hgb level which could result in a fatality. Stabilization of her Hgb level and starting intravenous antibiotic therapy is necessary to avoid harm; decreasing her chance of cardiac arrest and systemic infection which would increase the likelihood of success in her case. This scenario does not mention her blood glucose (BG) level but another way harm can be avoided is by assuring her BG level is within an acceptable range, as well. Therefore, admitting her to a medical surgical unit to stabilize her Hgb and BG may be necessary prior to surgery. Although her anemia could be a result of her infection the practitioner should make an effort to determine the cause of her low Hgb levels to avoid further complications and develop future treatment plans. However, medical care would not be indicated, if Ms. Jones continues to refuse blood transfusions. Therefore, more of a palliative or hospice care path may be indicated versus medical and surgical acute care.