Caring for Clients with Diabetes Mellitus
What is Diabetes Mellitus?
Diabetes Mellitus is a group of metabolic diseases characterized by increased levels of glucose in the blood resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action or both.
Type I Diabetes mellitus results from autoimmune destruction of the beta cells in the pancreas results in inadequate insulin secretion (Potts & Mandleco, 2007), resulting in a decreased ability to derive energy from the food eaten (Klossner & Hatfield, 2010).
*This is different from Type II where type II is a complex metabolic disorder derived from social, behavioral, and environmental factors (Potts & Mandleco, 2007) where the pancreas produces insulin but it is not enough to meet the body's metabolic needs or there is insulin resistance.
Type I diabetes mellitus is the most common form of diabetes found in young people under age 40. It is typically seen in children ages 5 to 15 years of age. At least 15 million people in the U.S. have been diagnosed with this condition. Type I diabetes can occur at usually 6 years of age or around puberty (Klossner & Hatfield, 2010). By age 20, the incidence drops significantly (Potts & Mandleco, 2007). It has also been called Juvenile Diabetes and Insulin Dependent Diabetes (Medline Plus, 2012).
Type II diabetes mellitus occurs more commonly in adults, however with the rising obesity epidemic in children, more children are being diagnosed with Type II.
Interesting Facts
Diabetes Mellitus is a group of metabolic diseases characterized by increased levels of glucose in the blood resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action or both.
Type I Diabetes mellitus results from autoimmune destruction of the beta cells in the pancreas results in inadequate insulin secretion (Potts & Mandleco, 2007), resulting in a decreased ability to derive energy from the food eaten (Klossner & Hatfield, 2010).
*This is different from Type II where type II is a complex metabolic disorder derived from social, behavioral, and environmental factors (Potts & Mandleco, 2007) where the pancreas produces insulin but it is not enough to meet the body's metabolic needs or there is insulin resistance.
Type I diabetes mellitus is the most common form of diabetes found in young people under age 40. It is typically seen in children ages 5 to 15 years of age. At least 15 million people in the U.S. have been diagnosed with this condition. Type I diabetes can occur at usually 6 years of age or around puberty (Klossner & Hatfield, 2010). By age 20, the incidence drops significantly (Potts & Mandleco, 2007). It has also been called Juvenile Diabetes and Insulin Dependent Diabetes (Medline Plus, 2012).
Type II diabetes mellitus occurs more commonly in adults, however with the rising obesity epidemic in children, more children are being diagnosed with Type II.
Interesting Facts
- DM incidence has doubled since 1980
- Estimated 21 million in US have DM
- Estimated 1/3 of cases undiagnosed
- Age 65-74 have 16.8% incidence
- African American & Hispanic have higher incidence than Caucasians.
- African American & Hispanic have more complications and higher death rates r/t DM than Caucasians.
Often times , people can also be diagnosed with a condition called pre-diabetes which is a precursor to Type II DM. People with pre-diabetes have either impaired fasting glucose or impaired glucose tolerance or perhaps even both. Usually these people with have a higher level glucose when tested (fasting). NIDDK, an organization that researches diabetes, estimates that about 57 million people in the U.S. have pre-diabetes and that many of those people will develop Type II which can be avoided by implementing weight loss, diet modifications, and increased physical activities.
Let's find out how the diabetes mellitus occurs in our next section, "Pathophysiology". Click on the brown "Next" button below.
Let's find out how the diabetes mellitus occurs in our next section, "Pathophysiology". Click on the brown "Next" button below.
Resources:
American Diabetes Association: http://www.diabetes.org/
Diabetes Education Online. (2013). Retrieved September 18, 2013, from http://dtc.ucsf.edu
American Diabetes Association: http://www.diabetes.org/
Diabetes Education Online. (2013). Retrieved September 18, 2013, from http://dtc.ucsf.edu