Diabetes Mellitus Case Study

Diabetes mellitus is a group of metabolic diseases in which the individual has high blood glucose levels as a result of the inability of the pancreas to produce insulin, or as a result of the cells in the body not responding to the insulin produced. The aim of this documentation is to outline the normal regulation of blood glucose levels in the body which includes the role of the hormone producing alpha cells and beta cells in regulating these levels, and the effect that the pathophysiology of diabetes mellitus type one has on this regulation. This documentation further outlines the three main presenting symptoms of diabetes mellitus type one, polyuria, which is characterised by excess urination, polydipsia, which is characterised by extreme thirst, and polyphagia, which is associated with extreme hunger. A further insight is given relating to these symptoms, explaining the metabolic processes behind them. Associated symptoms relating to diabetes mellitus type one are also covered, these include feelings of weakness or fatigue, numbness and tingling of the extremities and a compromised immune system which results in slow healing wounds and injuries. The management of diabetes can often be quite complex, particularly in Anna’s case where she has been been newly diagnosed with diabetes mellitus type one and is a young fourteen year old girl. The five components of diabetes management need to be looked at when developing a care plan for Anna which includes, nutritional management, exercise, monitoring and pharmacologic therapy and education.
The pancreas is a mixed gland composed of both endocrine and exocrine gland cells, which plays a major role in controlling blood glucose levels in the body. Distributed throughout the acinar cells are pancreatic islets, which are small cell clusters that produce pancreatic hormones. The islets contain two hormone-producing cells, the glucagon-synthesising alpha cells, and the insulin-producing beta cells. These cells act as