Unit 14: Physiological disorders and their care
LAA - Disorder 1 (Task 1)
What is diabetes?
According to the website - World Health Organisation or also known as WHO (11/06/24)
implies that ‘Diabetes is a chronic, metabolic disease characterised by elevated levels of
blood glucose (or blood sugar), which leads over time to serious damage to the heart, blood
vessels, eyes, kidneys and nerves.’ There are a variety of different types of diabetes such as
wolfram syndrome, mody, gestational, neonatal, and alström syndrome. The most common
types of diabetes are type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. The problem is that people with
type 1 diabetes can’t make any insulin at all. Similarly, people with type 2 diabetes the insulin
isn’t produced correctly or it simply can’t make enough insulin in the pancreas. Unfortunately,
the website Diabetes UK (11/06/24) states that ‘Over five million people in the UK are now
living with diabetes, equivalent to more than one in 14 people. The majority of these are
living with type 2 diabetes, with the number of people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes having
almost doubled in the last 15 years.’
How is diabetes caused?
According to the website Mayo Clinic (18/07/24) worries that ‘the exact cause of most types
of diabetes is unknown’. Similarly ‘in all cases, sugar builds up in the bloodstream.’ However,
it may be caused by genetic, environmental, lifestyle choices, diet, and other diabetes
factors.
1
,Has your diabetes come from inherited traits?
Genes alone are not the main cause for diabetes. However, it is part of the cause that
someone develops type 1 diabetes. While most people who develop type 1 diabetes did not
inherit the condition through ancestors, the website JDRF (18/08/24) suggests that ‘More
than 50 genes have been identified that can influence a person’s risk of developing type 1
diabetes’ Although, Scientists are investigating if environmental factors are contributing to
the cause of diabetes. For example, it is thought that something in the immune system is
attacking the beta cells which are found in the pancreas.
Studies of twins have demonstrated that type 2 diabetes is inherited. The website American
Diabetes Association (18/08/24) says that ‘Type 2 diabetes has a stronger link to family
history and lineage than type 1, and studies of twins have shown that genetics play a very
strong role in the development of type 2 diabetes. Race can also play a role. For example,
most white people with type 1 diabetes have genes called HLA-DR3 or HLA-DR4; HLA-DR7
gene may put African Americans at risk; HLA-DR9 gene may put Japanese people at risk.
Therefore, if a person’s child is white that means that child has a higher risk of developing
risk of type 1 diabetes. ’ In contrast to type 1 diabetes researchers have found that relatives
of people with type 1 diabetes ‘who later got diabetes had certain autoantibodies, or proteins
that destroy bacteria or viruses (antibodies "gone bad" that attack the body's own tissues), in
their blood for years before they are diagnosed.’
2
, What lifestyle choices of yours are making your diabetes worse?
Lifestyles choices such as being overweight and obesity significantly increases the chances
of developing type 2 diabetes. Firstly, having a bad diet can cause diabetes because eating
high concentrations of foods like processed foods, saturated fats, and refined sugars is
described as poor eating habits. This means that it causes the blood sugar levels to spike up
depending on the foods that are high in sugar. The website Northway clinic (18/08/24) states
that ‘As their systems have a difficult time adequately regulating glucose, people with
diabetes may find this to be especially problematic. As a result, blood sugar levels rise
because glucose can’t enter cells effectively which can result in prolonged state of
hyper-glycemia.’ Secondly, another lifestyle choice that is making someone’s diabetes worse
would be ‘sedentary way of life’. By not doing productive and healthy activities such as sitting
around on the computer, not doing exercise. Which can result in poor glucose control, slow
healing recovery and obesity. Thirdly, smoking is a factor that can make diabetes symptoms
worse. It has a more negative consequence on type 2 diabetes service users because it can
cause permanent cardiovascular symptoms, people with type 2 diabetes would need to take
insulin resistance as a medication. Finally, alcohol is a factor that can drastically worsen the
service user’s diabetes. The downsides of alcohol is that it gives a high calorie content,
which increases the risk of weight gain and obesity to service users who have type 2
diabetes. Therefore, by doing healthy lifestyles such as exercise, having a good balanced
diet, and stopping consuming bad substances is essential to prevent type 2 diabetes but it
also makes sure that a person can maintain a healthy body weight. For example, practising
yoga can help to lower blood pressure and blood sugar levels while also improving
circulation.
3
LAA - Disorder 1 (Task 1)
What is diabetes?
According to the website - World Health Organisation or also known as WHO (11/06/24)
implies that ‘Diabetes is a chronic, metabolic disease characterised by elevated levels of
blood glucose (or blood sugar), which leads over time to serious damage to the heart, blood
vessels, eyes, kidneys and nerves.’ There are a variety of different types of diabetes such as
wolfram syndrome, mody, gestational, neonatal, and alström syndrome. The most common
types of diabetes are type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. The problem is that people with
type 1 diabetes can’t make any insulin at all. Similarly, people with type 2 diabetes the insulin
isn’t produced correctly or it simply can’t make enough insulin in the pancreas. Unfortunately,
the website Diabetes UK (11/06/24) states that ‘Over five million people in the UK are now
living with diabetes, equivalent to more than one in 14 people. The majority of these are
living with type 2 diabetes, with the number of people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes having
almost doubled in the last 15 years.’
How is diabetes caused?
According to the website Mayo Clinic (18/07/24) worries that ‘the exact cause of most types
of diabetes is unknown’. Similarly ‘in all cases, sugar builds up in the bloodstream.’ However,
it may be caused by genetic, environmental, lifestyle choices, diet, and other diabetes
factors.
1
,Has your diabetes come from inherited traits?
Genes alone are not the main cause for diabetes. However, it is part of the cause that
someone develops type 1 diabetes. While most people who develop type 1 diabetes did not
inherit the condition through ancestors, the website JDRF (18/08/24) suggests that ‘More
than 50 genes have been identified that can influence a person’s risk of developing type 1
diabetes’ Although, Scientists are investigating if environmental factors are contributing to
the cause of diabetes. For example, it is thought that something in the immune system is
attacking the beta cells which are found in the pancreas.
Studies of twins have demonstrated that type 2 diabetes is inherited. The website American
Diabetes Association (18/08/24) says that ‘Type 2 diabetes has a stronger link to family
history and lineage than type 1, and studies of twins have shown that genetics play a very
strong role in the development of type 2 diabetes. Race can also play a role. For example,
most white people with type 1 diabetes have genes called HLA-DR3 or HLA-DR4; HLA-DR7
gene may put African Americans at risk; HLA-DR9 gene may put Japanese people at risk.
Therefore, if a person’s child is white that means that child has a higher risk of developing
risk of type 1 diabetes. ’ In contrast to type 1 diabetes researchers have found that relatives
of people with type 1 diabetes ‘who later got diabetes had certain autoantibodies, or proteins
that destroy bacteria or viruses (antibodies "gone bad" that attack the body's own tissues), in
their blood for years before they are diagnosed.’
2
, What lifestyle choices of yours are making your diabetes worse?
Lifestyles choices such as being overweight and obesity significantly increases the chances
of developing type 2 diabetes. Firstly, having a bad diet can cause diabetes because eating
high concentrations of foods like processed foods, saturated fats, and refined sugars is
described as poor eating habits. This means that it causes the blood sugar levels to spike up
depending on the foods that are high in sugar. The website Northway clinic (18/08/24) states
that ‘As their systems have a difficult time adequately regulating glucose, people with
diabetes may find this to be especially problematic. As a result, blood sugar levels rise
because glucose can’t enter cells effectively which can result in prolonged state of
hyper-glycemia.’ Secondly, another lifestyle choice that is making someone’s diabetes worse
would be ‘sedentary way of life’. By not doing productive and healthy activities such as sitting
around on the computer, not doing exercise. Which can result in poor glucose control, slow
healing recovery and obesity. Thirdly, smoking is a factor that can make diabetes symptoms
worse. It has a more negative consequence on type 2 diabetes service users because it can
cause permanent cardiovascular symptoms, people with type 2 diabetes would need to take
insulin resistance as a medication. Finally, alcohol is a factor that can drastically worsen the
service user’s diabetes. The downsides of alcohol is that it gives a high calorie content,
which increases the risk of weight gain and obesity to service users who have type 2
diabetes. Therefore, by doing healthy lifestyles such as exercise, having a good balanced
diet, and stopping consuming bad substances is essential to prevent type 2 diabetes but it
also makes sure that a person can maintain a healthy body weight. For example, practising
yoga can help to lower blood pressure and blood sugar levels while also improving
circulation.
3
