Diabetes is a medical condition that results when the human body does not efficiently process blood glucose, commonly referred to as blood sugar, (Holt, Cockram, and Goldstein, 2017). This condition if not managed well it leads to accumulation of blood in the body hence causing other severe disorders such as stroke and cardiac diseases. There are several types of diabetes the most common one being type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes. There are several drug treatments used to manage this condition, and the choice of drug treatment depends on the type of diabetes. This essay is about the different types of diabetes and drug treatment, as well as dietary consideration for diabetes type 2.
Type 1 diabetes is also known as juvenile diabetes, and it is a condition that results when the body fails to produce sufficient insulin. An individual with this type of diabetes depends on artificial insulin for survival. Type 2 diabetes is as a result of the body cells not using the produced insulin effectively. Unlike type 1, in type 2 diabetes, the body produces insulin, but the body does not utilize it as it is supposed to. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases recognizes type 2 diabetes as the most common type of diabetes, and it is closely associated with obesity (American Diabetes Association. 2018). Gestational diabetes, as the name suggests, occurs in women during pregnancy. The gestational period may make some women less sensitive to insulin, thus causing this disorder (Rashed, Al Sabah, and Momin, 2018). It does not affect all pregnant women, and the condition resolves after giving birth.
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Since type 2 diabetes is the most prevalent type of diabetes, I chose to determine its drug treatment. Several drugs can be used to treat type 2 diabetes, but Metformin is among the best alternative for this condition. The treatment of type 2 diabetes necessitates antagonistic treatment to eliminate cardiovascular and glycemic risks. This drug stands out among the rest due to its antihyperglycemic properties as well as for improvement in oxidative stress and hemostasis, fat and lipid profile redistribution and managing insulin resistance, (Forslund, Hildebran, and Falony, 2015). The drug is appropriate for treating this condition as it can handle several forms of insulin resistant as well as pre-diabetic states. These properties have resulted in the elimination of cardiovascular risk factors among patients under metformin treatment. Several newer drugs have been introduced, and studies show that Metformin has a high safety profile thus can be used in combination with other medications to achieve the best results. Using an appropriate dose titration can significantly improve the tolerability of this drug. To minimize the side effects of this drug, it can be administered starting with low doses or by the switch to an extended release form. There are dietary and lifestyle consideration for this condition. Watching what you eat and exercise helps in managing this condition.
Type 2 diabetes has both short term and long term effects on the individuals suffering from this disorder. The short-term impact includes hyperosmolar hyperglycemic nonketotic syndrome (HHNS), which is associated with high levels of blood glucose and hypoglycemia associated with deficient levels of blood glucose in the body. A drop in blood sugar level is associated with medication using drugs such as sulfonylurea but not the case with Metformin, (Ferrannini and DeFronzo, 2015). This may be characterized by headaches, sleepiness, anxiety, the whiteness of skin, and sweating, rapid heartbeat, among other symptoms. Long term impact is micro-vascular complications which affect the kidney, eyes, and the nervous system. The high blood glucose may damage both small and large blood vessels causing severe complications that may result in loss of life.
References
American Diabetes Association. (2018). Introduction: standards of medical care in diabetes—2018.
Ferrannini, E., & DeFronzo, R. A. (2015). Impact of glucose-lowering drugs on cardiovascular disease in type 2 diabetes. European heart journal, 36(34), 2288-2296.
Forslund, K., Hildebrand, F., Nielsen, T., Falony, G., Le Chatelier, E., Sunagawa, S., ... & Arumugam, M. (2015). Disentangling type 2 diabetes and metformin treatment signatures in the human gut microbiota. Nature, 528(7581), 262.
Holt, R. I., Cockram, C., Flyvbjerg, A., & Goldstein, B. J. (Eds.). (2017). Textbook of diabetes. John Wiley & Sons.
Rashed, M. R. I., Syed, A., Al Sabah, M., & Momin, M. M. (2018). Review of diabetes types and Care. Int. J. Curr. Res. Med. Sci, 4(11), 27-32.
