Running head: CASE STUDY: “DIABETES”

Case Study “Diabetes”

Angela Hulme
Anderson University
CASE STUDY: “DIABETES”

10. List a minimum of five risk factors that predispose this patient to type 2 diabetes

mellitus.

In looking at risk factors for type 2 diabetes mellitus, the five risk factors for this patient

would include increasing age, Native American ethnicity, family history of diabetes, history of

gestational diabetes and being overweight. (Risk factors, n.d.)

11. Clinical symptoms are subjective manifestations of a disease that can only be reported

by the patient. List a minimum of seven symptoms that support a diagnosis of type 2

diabetes in this patient.

Some of the common symptoms of type 2 diabetes mellitus are as follows: increased

thirst, frequent urination, feeling hungry, feeling very tired, blurry vision, cuts and or bruises that

heal slowly, weight loss, tingling, pain, or numbness in the hands or feet (Diabetes Symptoms,

n.d.). However, some of the subjective clinical symptoms reported by this patient include

increased thirst, frequent urination, blurred vision, weakness and numbness in left foot,

hypertension, lack of exercise, and eating unhealthy.

12. What has probably caused this patient’s left ventricular hypertrophy?

The left ventricular hypertrophy was caused by the high blood pressure combined with

high blood sugar. Among metabolic factors, insulin resistance can induce important structural

changes in the ventricular myocardium, and has been reported to be associated with the left

ventricular growth in patients with hypertension (Öncel, 2016).

CASE STUDY: “DIABETES”

15. Why do stress and infection promote hyperglycemia in patients with diabetes?

When patients have a lot of stress on them, the fight or flight response is activated which

increases the levels of hormones. The insulin hormone helps the body use glucose to produce

energy when the fight or flight response is activated. When there is a lack of insulin produced,

the glucose piles up in the blood which produces hyperglycemia (Diabetes Symptoms, n.d.).

When patients have chronic hyperglycemia in diabetic patients it can lead to acidosis, which

impairs the immune system resulting in increased risk for infections in patients (Diabetes

Mellitus and Infectious Diseases, 2015).

18. What is the significance of xerosis and cracking of the feet in this patient?

Xerosis is known as an abnormal dryness of the skin that is found in type 2 diabetic

patients (Morgan, 2013). With the excessive dryness of the feet, it can lead to cracks or fissures

in the skin. When there is a breakdown in the skin, the patient is more susceptible to obtaining an

infection. The patient that is diabetic is already more susceptible to infection which produces a

greater risk of developing a possible infection. Another area of concern is that diabetic patients

usually have neuropathy in their legs and feet; therefore, the patient can not feel if an injury

occurs that needs treatment.

The predictive factors that led to this patient’s disease state is non-compliance with

recommended treatment. The patient neglected to try and manage her high blood sugar and

continued to eat unhealthy. The fact that the patient is overweight and does not exercise also has

an impact on the patient’s health. The patient also has genetic factors that include family history

of diabetes and Native American ethnicity.

CASE STUDY: “DIABETES”

References:

@DiabetesInCntrl. (2015). Diabetes Mellitus and Infectious Diseases: Controlling Chronic

Hyperglycemia. Retrieved December 09, 2016, from

http://www.diabetesincontrol.com/diabetes-mellitus-and-infectious-diseases-

controlling-chronic-hyperglycemia/

Diabetes Symptoms. (n.d.). Retrieved December 09, 2016, from

http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/symptoms/

Morgan, N. (2013). What you need to know about xerosis in patients with diabetic feet. Wound

Care Advisor, (4), 26.

Öncel, C. R. (2016). Left ventricular hypertrophy, inflammation, and insulin resistance.

Anatolian Journal of Cardiology, 16(2), 142. doi:10.14744/AnatolJCardiol.2015.6857

Risk factors. (n.d.). Retrieved December 09, 2016, from http://www.idf.org/about-diabetes/risk-

factors