DIABETES – PART 2 Diabetes – Part 2 Johnathon Hakola Rasmussen College Signs and symptoms of diabetes Diabetes is often referred to as a silent killer since it is quite easy to miss its symptoms. Individuals can experience different signs and symptoms and at times there could be no signs at all. The development of type 1 diabetes is normally sudden and dramatic. Its symptoms are often mild or absent especially ion people who are suffering from type II diabetes. The early symptoms of type II diabetes are often subtle and harmless. Over time, one ends up developing diabetes complications even if one did not have any symptoms. These include excessive thirst and an increase in urination. This is because there is an excessive buildup of glucose in the blood and kidneys are forced to overwork. If kidneys are not able to keep up the excess sugar is excreted through urine hence frequent urination (Mathew, 2008). The other symptom is fatigue that is caused by dehydration from the increase in urination. The other symptom is weight loss since the loss of sugars through urination can lead to loss of calories. Blurred vision is also a symptom of diabetes since high levels of sugars in the blood end up pulling fluids from tissues such as the lenses of the eyes. This affects an individual’s ability to focus. Another symptom is slow healing of sores or frequent infections. Treatment and prevention of diabetes If one has a family history, they are exposed to other risk factors or have been diagnosed with pre-diabetes, there are some healthy living tips that one can follow to prevent the onset of diabetes. Numerous studies suggest that leading healthy lifestyles like eating healthy, losing weight and an increase in physical activity can lead to the reduction of progression of diabetes type II and help in controlling type 1 diabetes. Regular physical activity has numerous benefits such as lose weight, lowering the levels of blood sugar and boosting the sensitivity to insulin that assist in keeping the level of blood sugar within the required range (Mathew, 2008). Lifestyle changes have to be complemented with medications that help in controlling the levels of blood glucose, cholesterol and high blood pressure that lead to deaths of many diabetes patients. Working together with a healthcare team can enable an individual to set their personal treatment goals, monitor their critical health and be able to successfully manage diabetes while at the same time preventing any complications that can arise from diabetes (Semple & Olshan, 2000). Short and long-term consequences of diabetes Short-term effects of diabetes can occur anytime when an individual has diabetes. Long-term results, on the other hand, develop when an individual has suffered from diabetes for a long period. Some of the short-term consequences include low levels of glucose in the blood also known as hypoglycemia. This can be due to too much insulin, too much exercise or lack of.

1. DIABETES – PART 2
Diabetes – Part 2
Johnathon Hakola
Rasmussen College
Signs and symptoms of diabetes
Diabetes is often referred to as a silent killer since it is
quite easy to miss its symptoms. Individuals can experience
different signs and symptoms and at times there could be no
signs at all. The development of type 1 diabetes is normally
sudden and dramatic. Its symptoms are often mild or absent
especially ion people who are suffering from type II diabetes.
The early symptoms of type II diabetes are often subtle and
harmless. Over time, one ends up developing diabetes
complications even if one did not have any symptoms. These

2. include excessive thirst and an increase in urination. This is
because there is an excessive buildup of glucose in the blood
and kidneys are forced to overwork. If kidneys are not able to
keep up the excess sugar is excreted through urine hence
frequent urination (Mathew, 2008). The other symptom is
fatigue that is caused by dehydration from the increase in
urination. The other symptom is weight loss since the loss of
sugars through urination can lead to loss of calories. Blurred
vision is also a symptom of diabetes since high levels of sugars
in the blood end up pulling fluids from tissues such as the
lenses of the eyes. This affects an individual’s ability to focus.
Another symptom is slow healing of sores or frequent
infections.
Treatment and prevention of diabetes
If one has a family history, they are exposed to other risk
factors or have been diagnosed with pre-diabetes, there are
some healthy living tips that one can follow to prevent the onset
of diabetes. Numerous studies suggest that leading healthy
lifestyles like eating healthy, losing weight and an increase in
physical activity can lead to the reduction of progression of
diabetes type II and help in controlling type 1 diabetes. Regular
physical activity has numerous benefits such as lose weight,
lowering the levels of blood sugar and boosting the sensitivity
to insulin that assist in keeping the level of blood sugar within
the required range (Mathew, 2008). Lifestyle changes have to
be complemented with medications that help in controlling the
levels of blood glucose, cholesterol and high blood pressure that
lead to deaths of many diabetes patients. Working together with
a healthcare team can enable an individual to set their personal
treatment goals, monitor their critical health and be able to
successfully manage diabetes while at the same time preventing
any complications that can arise from diabetes (Semple &
Olshan, 2000).
Short and long-term consequences of diabetes
Short-term effects of diabetes can occur anytime when an
individual has diabetes. Long-term results, on the other hand,

3. develop when an individual has suffered from diabetes for a
long period. Some of the short-term consequences include low
levels of glucose in the blood also known as hypoglycemia. This
can be due to too much insulin, too much exercise or lack of
enough food. Another short-term consequence is high blood
glucose or hyperglycemia. Long-term consequences of diabetes
can be seen in various parts of the body like eyes, kidneys,
nerves, heart and blood vessels (Semple & Olshan, 2000).
Individuals suffering from diabetes have a high risk of
developing eye problems such as cataracts, retinopathy and
glaucoma. Diabetes patients are also at risk of developing
kidney diseases due to high levels of blood sugar. Another long-
term consequence of diabetes is the damage of nerves known as
diabetic neuropathy. Individuals suffering from diabetes are at
risk of developing heart and blood vessel problems such as
stroke, blockage of blood vessels.
References
Mathew, D. (2008). Diabetes. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Semple, C., & Olshan, J. (2000). Diabetes9Rev. Ed). Berkeley
Heights, NJ: Enslow.
1
DIABETES

4. Diabetes
Johnathon Hakola
Rasmussen College
04/24/2015
There are two types of diabetes, which are caused by different
factors. Type 1 diabetes is as a result of the interaction of
environmental and genetic factors. Some environmental factors
particularly certain viruses have a significant role to play when
it comes to the development of type 1 diabetes. The
environmental factors that might start the autoimmune
destruction of beta cells in the pancreas include dietary factors
during early stages in life for instance lack of vitamin D,
chemicals, enteroviruses, cytotoxins and other infections.
Diabetes type 1 is a genetic disease that can be transferred from
a parent to an offspring. There are 18 regions of the genome
that are linked to the development of type 1 diabetes (Leslie,
2003).
The other type of diabetes is the type 2 which is
characterized by the resistance of insulin and a progressive
decline in the Beta cells of the pancreas from producing insulin.
Type 2 diabetes does not involve any autoimmune-mediated
damage of the beta cells of the pancreas. The etiology of
diabetes type 2 is quite complex involving both genetic and
lifestyle factors. Genes paly a crucial role in the development of
diabetes type 2 through this contribution is seen to be quite
small. The likelihood of the known gene variants that
predispose type 2diabetes is about 5-10% (Leslie, 2003).This
means that unlike other diseases that can be inherited, if an
individual is homozygous for these genes does not mean that

5. they have to end up developing type 2diabetes unless there are
other environmental factors exist.
Lifestyle factors also cause type 2 diabetes. One of the
major risk factors for the development of type 2 diabetes is
obesity. If an individual has a significant degree of obesity,
then they have an increased chance of developing type 2
diabetes. The excess adipose tissue that occurs in the state of
chronic inflammation, and the inflammation leads to insulin
resistance within the adipose tissue as well as other organs
(Leslie, 2003). The other factors that predispose an individual
to type 2diabetes are age, presence of a metabolic syndrome and
sedentary lifestyle.
Type 1 diabetes is as a result of an autoimmune
destruction of the beta cells of the pancreas. When the majority
of the beta cells have been destroyed, the body is not able to
maintain an average level of serum glucose and hence the signs
of diabetes type 1 start to show. In the first stage of type 2
diabetes, the beta cells cease to respond to insulin. This leads to
an increase in the production of insulin by the pancreas
(McAuliffe, 2012). The resistance persists and the pancreas is
no longer able to produce more insulin. This means that even
before the development of diabetes, the beta cells are lost from
the pancreas and as the disease progresses there is a continued
loss of the functionality of the pancreas. The organs of a patient
suffering from diabetes are under so much stress and are
affected by the metabolic condition that has changed.
Diabetes affects various systems in individuals who
suffer from the disease. One of these systems is the visual
system whereby the condition results in the damage of the blood
vessels in the eyes. The damage can lead to cataracts, glaucoma
changes in the structure of the retina or even blindness. A
damage of the blood vessels leads to the prevention of nerve
signals from getting to the eyes. Diabetes can cause a buildup of
pressure from the fluid that end up compressing nerves within
the eyes (Stehouwer, 2009). The other system that can be
affected by diabetes is the nervous system. Having a lot of

6. glucose in circulation within the body can lead to the damage of
nerves in the body. This leads to tingling, numbness and pain
particularly in the feet and legs. If an individual develops sores
or cuts they might end up not feeling them and they also heal
very slowly. It might cause the less of sense in some areas of
the body and can lead to amputation if this damage is severe.
Diabetes can also affect the circulatory system in that the blood
vessels become narrow and damaged (McAuliffe, 2012).
References
Leslie R, (2003). Causes of diabetes: Genetic and environmental
factors. Chichester [England: J. Wiley.
McAuliffe, B. (2012). Diabetes. Mankato, Minn.: Creative
Education.
Stehouwer, C. (2009). Diabetes. Oxford: Clinical Pub.