DIABETES AND THE ENDOCRINE SYSTEM
Diabetes and the Endocrine System
The endocrine system, in basic terms, comprises of the various glands making or producing hormones. The relevance of the said hormones cannot be overstated when it comes to the regulation of various body processes including, but not limited to, growth, breathing, appetite, etc. Apart from diabetes, some of the other disorders associated with the endocrine system are inclusive of; Hashimotos thyroiditis, Graves disease, Cushings syndrome, and Addisons disease.
Diabetes has been identified as a leading cause of death in the country, as well as in other parts of the world. As a matter of fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC (2021), data available for the years 2015-2018 indicates that 11.3% of U.S. adults (of age 20 and above) had been diagnosed with diabetes. At present, as the CDC (2021) further points out, the disease happens to be the 7th leading death cause within the country. To a large extent, this is a clear indication that there is a lot that needs to be done to reign in this particular condition. However, it should be noted that efforts to decrease the number of persons diagnosed with diabetes each year, as well as bring down the death rate attributed to diabetes ought to start with proper understanding of the disease and how it impacts various bodily systems, assessment of the most effective medical interventions and assistive technology interventions, as well as evaluation of the various concerns (i.e. cultural issues) that could get in the way of, or promote, rehabilitation.
It is important to note that in essence, diabetes impacts the bodys blood glucose levels regulation. Amongst those who have not been diagnosed with diabetes (and do not have pre-diabetes), blood glucose levels are kept in check by glucagon and insulin. While the latter plays the role of reducing blood glucose levels, the formers role happens to be that of increasing the levels of glucose in the blood. Thus, to a large extent, the two function hand in hand to ensure balanced blood glucose levels. It therefore follows that amongst those diagnosed with diabetes, there happens to be an imbalance of sorts between glucagon and insulin effects. In this case, the body either fails to manufacture insulin in sufficient amounts, or it fails to respond in a proper manner to insulin. According to Wu, Ding, Tanaka, and Zhang (2014), amongst those with type 2 diabetes, the bodys response to insulin happens to be ineffective. In this case, the body is unable to make proper use of insulin due to its resistance to the action of the same. As a consequence, a person having type 2 diabetes happens to have blood glucose levels that are higher than normal. To a large extent, this is the most common type of diabetes. On the other hand, when it comes to type 1 diabetes, it is important to note that the body in this case happens to be incapable of producing insulin in sufficient levels. Thus, failure to inject insulin results in high blood glucose levels. There are other categories of diabetes which also deserve a mention in this write-up. These are inclusive of...
In the final analysis, it would also be prudent to point out that with the raising numbers of people diagnosed with diabetes, the need for rehabilitation counselors has grown in recent times. This is more so the case given that the role that the said counselors play in this realm remains immense i.e. when it comes to ensuring that the problems and concerns of individuals with disabilities (that are lifestyle-related) are sufficiently addressed. Persons with diabetes are often at an elevated risk of certain complications such as amputation, vision loss, etc. Rehabilitation counselor training efforts should, however, be cognizant of the fact that thanks to technology, there are new approaches in the management of diabetes that have proven effective and that could be used to improve outcomes. Continuous leaning should also be made part and parcel of training effort so as to ensure that new advances are identified promptly. Indeed, as Philip and Lynn (2018) observe, the rehabilitation needs of the growing percentage of persons diagnosed with diabetes and other chronic conditions means that the need for persons skilled in new interventions has never been greater. The other chronic conditions that have been highlighted by the author as demanding new interventions are inclusive of cancer (i.e. certain kinds of cancer), stoke, as well as emphysema and HIV. It is for this reason that the authors are categorical that the increased presence of…
References
American Diabetic Association (2020). Diabetes Symptoms. https://www.diabetes.org/diabetes/type-2/symptoms
Al-Goblan, A., Al-Afifi, M. & Khan, M.Z (2014). Mechanism linking diabetes mellitus and obesity. Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes., 7, 587-591.
Alcantara-Aragon, V. (2019). Improving patient self-care using diabetes technologies. Therapeutic Advances in Endocrinology and Metabolism, 10, 73-91.
Cheng, Y.J., Kanaya, A.M., Roario, M. & Araneta, M.P. (2019). Prevalence of Diabetes by Race and Ethnicity in the United States, 2011-2016. JAMA, 322(24), 2389-2398.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – CDC (2021). Diabetes. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/diabetes.htm
DiMeglio, L., Evans-Molina, C. & Oram, R.A. (2018). Type 1 diabetes. Lancet, 391(10138), 2449-2462.
Marshall, S.M. (2020). The pancreas in health and in diabetes. Diabetologia, 63, 1962-1965.
Nasri, H. & Rafieian-Kopaei, M. (2014). Metformin: Current knowledge. J Res Med Sci., 19(7), 658-664.
Philip, R. & Lynn, K. (2018). Rehabilitation Counseling Considerations for People With Lifestyle-Related Disabilities Such as Diabetes Mellitus, Heart Disease, and Asthma: A Review and Synthesis of the Literature. Rehabilitation Research, Policy, and Education, 33(1), 216-224.
Rebolledo, J.A. & Arellano, R. (2016). Cultural Differences and Considerations When Initiating Insulin. Diabetes Spectrum, 29(3), 185-190.
Wu, Y., Ding, Y., Tanaka, Y. & Zhang, W. (2014). Risk Factors Contributing to Type 2 Diabetes and Recent Advances in the Treatment and Prevention. Int J Med Sci., 11(11), 77-83.
Hormone (or endocrine) disruptors interfere with the normal functioning of the endocrine system. They can: mimic a natural hormone and thus fool the body into responding a certain way, interfere with the reception of hormones by hormone receptors, directly alter a hormone and impede its function, cause the body to overproduce or under produce natural hormones, or decrease or increase the number of hormone receptors. These effects are especially
(Sims & Haggerty, Description section, 2006, ¶ 2). A Palpable Goiter's Presence The journal article, "Hyperthyroidism" (N.d.), explains that a goiter denotes the enlargement of the thyroid gland. The majority of individuals with a goiter will not likely realize it, until the goiter grows to a visible or palpable size, as a goiter may develop to enormous size prior to producing symptoms of compression. Frequently, a low iodine supply in the
Endocrine / Nervous System Based on Tanya's symptoms, and especially her out of shape condition, she is presumably showing signs of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, or insulin-resistant diabetes. Tanya is unlikely to have Type 1, an autoimmune condition in which the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas are killed off, as this manifests itself predominantly in children. While Type 1 can appear in an adult, Type 2 is very frequently caused by
This is called acute adrenal failure or an Addisonian crisis. It can be fatal if it isn't cared for. The indications may include: Pain in the abdomen, lower back or legs Severe vomiting and diarrhea Dehydration Low blood pressure Loss of consciousness (Addison's disease, 2010). Secondary adrenal deficiency takes place when the pituitary gland fails to manufacture adequate adrenocorticotropin (ACTH), a hormone that rouses the adrenal glands to produce cortisol. If ACTH production is too
Toxins are poisonous substances that can cause harm to human beings via one or more of its physiological systems. For example, DDT is a toxin used to kill insects but which also affects the human endocrine system. Tetrodotoxin is a toxin found in the venom of animals like frogs and pufferfish, but if it enters the human nervous system can cause paralysis or death. Mercury is a naturally-occurring element like
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