Diabetic Diet & Blood Gluecose

I need ten questions to conduct the interview.
Thanks
I CAN ASK THE QUESTION SOMEBODY WHO IS NOT AFFECTED BY THE DISEASE, THEY NEED JUST TO CONDUCT AN INTERVIEW, ITS HEALTH PROJECT.

How long did it take for you to get diagnosed after experiencing symptoms?

How has this diagnosis changed your life?

Are you modifying your behaivior (diet/physical activity) to help keep it under control?

I kind of forgot which one is which and what are the possible nursing managements?

Hypoglycemia and Macrosomia

http://www.healthsystem.virginia.edu/UVaHealth/peds_hrnewborn/diabtmom.cfm

I’m confused if it’s
a. insulin deficiency
b. HYPERinsulinemia and insulin resistance.

I think it’s HYPOinsulinemia and insulin resistance, but that’s not an option. Can someone explain please
but why would you take more insulin if you already have too much in your blood and the problem is that you’re resistant to it. I’m just trying to understand, not doubting you.

Insufficient production of insulin (either absolutely or relative to the body’s needs), production of defective insulin (which is uncommon), or the inability of cells to use insulin properly and efficiently leads to hyperglycemia and diabetes. This latter condition affects mostly the cells of muscle and fat tissues, and results in a condition known as "insulin resistance." This is the primary problem in type 2 diabetes. The absolute lack of insulin, usually secondary to a destructive process affecting the insulin producing beta cells in the pancreas, is the main disorder in type 1 diabetes. In type 2 diabetes, there also is a steady decline of beta cells that adds to the process of elevated blood sugars. Essentially, if someone is resistant to insulin, the body can, to some degree, increase production of insulin and overcome the level of resistance. After time, if production decreases and insulin cannot be released as vigorously, hyperglycemia develops.

Glucose is a simple sugar found in food. Glucose is an essential nutrient that provides energy for the proper functioning of the body cells. Carbohydrates are broken down in the small intestine and the glucose in digested food is then absorbed by the intestinal cells into the bloodstream, and is carried by the bloodstream to all the cells in the body where it is utilized. However, glucose cannot enter the cells alone and needs insulin to aid in its transport into the cells. Without insulin, the cells become starved of glucose energy despite the presence of abundant glucose in the bloodstream. In certain types of diabetes, the cells’ inability to utilize glucose gives rise to the ironic situation of "starvation in the midst of plenty". The abundant, unutilized glucose is wastefully excreted in the urine.

Insulin is a hormone that is produced by specialized cells (beta cells) of the pancreas. (The pancreas is a deep-seated organ in the abdomen located behind the stomach.) In addition to helping glucose enter the cells, insulin is also important in tightly regulating the level of glucose in the blood. After a meal, the blood glucose level rises. In response to the increased glucose level, the pancreas normally releases more insulin into the bloodstream to help glucose enter the cells and lower Blood Glucose levels after a meal. When the blood glucose levels are lowered, the insulin release from the pancreas is turned down. It is important to note that even in the fasting state there is a low steady release of insulin than fluctuates a bit and helps to maintain a steady blood sugar level during fasting. In normal individuals, such a regulatory system helps to keep blood glucose levels in a tightly controlled range. As outlined above, in patients with diabetes, the insulin is either absent, relatively insufficient for the body’s needs, or not used properly by the body. All of these factors cause elevated levels of blood glucose (hyperglycemia).

Tin

I am a littl confused. What is the difference between hyperglycemic and being diabetic.
Helene, you just confused me. lol
Waldo, what is considered excessive?

Hyperglycemia implies raised Blood Glucose. Every hyperglycemic need not be diabetic, though most them are. A pre-diabetic may have hyperglycemia, yet he/she may not be an established diabetic. How can an hyperglycemic person find out if he/she has diabetes? Despite the advent of all the fancy gadgetry, good old GTT(Glucose Tolerance Test) is still the best bet.

Hypoglycemia resulting in insulin deficiency/resistance does this as well, but the two conditions are polar opposites in terms of blood sugar. How can they both cause hunger?

Shouldn’t hyperglycemia provide ample energy for the body’s cells? I understand that the cells are surrounded by glucose, so why can’t they access it? What mechanism is being triggered (in, I assume, the insulin-glucagon axis)?

Also, why does hyperglycemia cause mental fatigue? Doesn’t the glucose supply fuel the brain?

Just because there’s glucose in the blood, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s getting to where it needs to go. Look up insulin resistance and/or hyperinsulinemia, or read this:
http://www.vivo.colostate.edu/hbooks/pathphys/endocrine/pancreas/insulin_phys.html

I am not looking for symptoms, I want to know what is going on inside the body while one has hyperglycemia.

I don’t know why this question is in this section. Hyperglycemia is diabetes. It destroys nerves and blood vessels in the extremeties, damages kidneys, enhances chance of stroke and heart attacks. Ultimately resulting in the amputation of feet or legs and the requirement for dialysis.

I have hyperglycemia and yes I do get headaches when sugar is low, eat protien to stabilize sugar, less carbo everyday

Since hyperglycemia is high blood sugar, I would do all the necessary testing to make sure if this person is a diabetic or not. If the tests come back positive, explain to the patient what diabetes is, what type they have. I would proceed to give medications that are needed, (teach them how to inject insulin, calculate dosage, or how to take the oral medication if they are type 2) and advice a diet change, send this person to a good nutritionist, and some diabetic educational classes. I would also advise the patient to get a meter and test the blood sugars at least 8 times during the day, until the blood sugar is brought under control. Schedule another office visit in one month. If this person seemed to have complications or has trouble bringing down the blood sugars, I would refer them to an endrocinologist.

this is from a case study, and I am not just being lazy. I have researched everywhere I know to look and cant find the answer that covers all of these symptoms. Any help would be appreciated.

Ok, this can all be associated with diabetes.

Her blood sugar is high.. she has a lack of insulin, the body cannot use the glucose as energy without the insulin. She is an athlete and is active and needs some form of energy. Her body starts to break down fats for energy-the only problem is they cannot be completely broken down and release ketones into the blood. This in turn causes ketoacidosis- which can cause Nausea and Vomiting. Going long term with high blood sugar levels cause Neuropathy (damage of nerves) due to constriction of the blood vessels (some sort of injury) in the arms and legs and this causes the tingling sensation, and diarrhea. Long term with out treatment also causes Neuropathic joint disease and a degeneration of weight bearing joints, this condition also causes bone to breakdown so more calcium enters the blood, causing the bone and joint pain.

My guess is she has had diabetes for some time that has gone uncontrolled

I had some links to go along with this, but it wouldn’t let me post it with them….. ???

No supplement is going to solve your problem completely. Think of them only as aids (that’s why they call them supplements). What you need to do is get on a low refined carbohydrate diet, get plenty of daily exercise, and insure that you’re getting an adequate supply of nutrients from natural sources like fresh fruits and vegetables. Avoid, or cut back on, man made, refined foods and high fat, meat and dairy products as much as possible.

If you still think you might want to try them, here are a few supplements that might help: Fenugreek, Gymnema Sylvestre, Banaba leaf, a half teaspoon a day of cinnamon, Nopal Cactus, Bitter Melon, Chromium*, Alpha Lipoic Acid, and Vandium*.

* Use these two with caution. Excess amounts can be toxic.