Case Study of Type 1 Diabetes

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a multisystem disease with both biochemical and anatomical/structural consequences. (Wolfsdorf et al: 2009) It is a chronic disease of carbohydrate, fat, and protein metabolism caused by the lack of insulin, which results from the marked and progressive inability of the pancreas to secrete insulin because of autoimmune destruction of the beta cells. Type 1 DM can occur at any age. It occurs most commonly in juveniles but can also occur in adults, especially in those in their late 30s and early 40s. Unlike people with Type 2 DM, those with Type 1 DM are generally not obese and may present initially with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). The distinguishing characteristic of a patient with Type 1 DM is that if his or her insulin is withdrawn, ketosis and eventually ketoacidosis develop. Therefore, patients are dependent on exogenous insulin. (Vanelli et al: 2007) Treatment of Type 1 DM in a young child requires a multidisciplinary approach inclusive of doctors, nurses, dieticians, parent/s and others who may have care for the child for periods longer than a few hours; so care and responsibility for Type 1 DM in a child, may also include teachers and extended family etc. (NICE 2004) In patients with new-onset Type 1 diabetes, lifelong insulin therapy must be started. As a chronic disease, Type 1 DM requires long-term medical attention, both to limit the development of its devastating complications and to manage them when they do occur, it is therefore essential that those caring for a child with Type 1 DM have a good working knowledge of the disease, and a practical understanding of how to manage and respond to this disease, if the child is too young to be able to manage this disease for themselves. (Craig et al: 2007) This case study examines the roles and responsibilities of those adults, who might have some element of accountability for managing and caring for a young child with Type 1 DM

Case Study of V

V, a 6 year old female, was taken

References: Craig ME, Wong CH, Alexander J, Maguire AM, Silink M. Delayed referral of new-onset type 1 diabetes increases the risk of diabetic ketoacidosis. Med J Aust 2009;190:219. DfES 2001 Special Education Needs: Code of Practice https://www.education.gov.uk/publications/standard/publicationDetail/Page1/DfES%200581%202001 last accessed on 15/1/2012 National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. (2004) http://www.nice.org.uk/nicemedia/live/10944/29402/29402.pdf last accessed on 15/1/2012 Osburn, J. (2006). An overview of Social Role Valorization theory. The SRV Journal, 1(1), 4-13 Vanelli M, Chiari G, Lacava S, Lovane B. (2007) Campaign for diabetic ketoacidosis prevention still effective 8 years later. Diabetes Care;30:e12. Wolfsdorf J, Craig ME, Daneman D, et al. (2009) Diabetic ketoacidosis in children and adolescents with diabetes. Pediatric Diabetes;10(Suppl 12):118–33.