Questions and Answers
What is a common complication of unmanaged diabetes related to vision?
Which blood glucose level indicates the diagnosis of diabetes after an 8-hour fast?
What test is used to assess average blood glucose control over the past three months?
Which of the following is NOT a complication of diabetes?
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What is the result of an Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) that indicates diabetes?
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Who is recommended to be screened for type 2 diabetes?
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Which type of diabetes is specifically diagnosed based on blood glucose levels during an OGTT?
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What is a significant risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes?
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What is a significant risk factor for developing Type 2 diabetes?
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Which of the following is NOT a symptom commonly associated with Type 1 diabetes?
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What percentage of pregnant women in the U.S. are estimated to develop gestational diabetes?
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What is a common outcome for women who have had gestational diabetes?
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Which ethnic group is identified as having a higher risk for developing diabetes?
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What is one characteristic of the onset of symptoms in Type 2 diabetes?
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What is a known risk factor for developing gestational diabetes?
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Which symptom is NOT typically associated with Type 2 diabetes?
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What is the primary reason diabetics have high blood sugar levels?
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Which form of diabetes is characterized by an autoimmune destruction of pancreatic beta cells?
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What is insulin resistance?
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Which type of diabetes is most often diagnosed in adults?
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What role does insulin play in glucose metabolism?
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What factors may contribute to the development of Type 1 diabetes?
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What percentage of the U.S. population is estimated to be affected by diabetes?
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Which of the following statements is true regarding Type 2 diabetes?
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Study Notes
Overview of Diabetes
- Diabetes mellitus, commonly called diabetes, is a chronic condition affecting approximately 25.8 million people in the U.S.
- It ranks as the seventh leading cause of death in the country.
- The condition involves high blood sugar levels, known as hyperglycemia.
Mechanism of Diabetes
- Food is converted into glucose, which enters the bloodstream, serving as the body’s fuel.
- The pancreas produces insulin, a hormone crucial for transporting glucose into muscle, fat, and liver cells.
- Diabetic individuals struggle with high blood sugar due to insufficient insulin production or insulin resistance in cells.
Types of Diabetes
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Type 1 Diabetes (T1D):
- Often referred to as juvenile or insulin-dependent diabetes.
- Can affect both adults and children and occurs when the pancreas fails to produce insulin due to the destruction of beta cells.
- Affected individuals require daily insulin injections.
- Causes are not fully understood but involve genetic and environmental factors.
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Type 2 Diabetes (T2D):
- The most prevalent type, primarily affecting adults but increasingly seen in teens due to obesity and sedentary lifestyles.
- Characterized by insulin resistance, preventing glucose from entering cells and causing accumulation in the bloodstream.
- Develops gradually over time.
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Gestational Diabetes:
- Diagnosed during pregnancy, affecting around 8% of pregnant women in the U.S.
- Linked to weight gain and hormonal changes during pregnancy, impairing insulin function.
- Generally resolves after giving birth, but increases the risk of T2D in the future.
Risk Factors for Diabetes
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Type 1 Diabetes:
- Family history of diabetes.
- Pancreatic diseases or infections affecting the pancreas.
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Type 2 Diabetes:
- Obesity and family history.
- History of gestational diabetes.
- Higher risk in specific ethnic groups: African Americans, Native Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans.
- Older age and hypertension.
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Gestational Diabetes:
- Family history and pre-pregnancy obesity.
- Belonging to a high-risk ethnic group.
- Previous gestational diabetes and having large babies (over 9 pounds).
Symptoms of Diabetes
-
Type 1 Diabetes:
- Rapid onset symptoms: weight loss, frequent urination, extreme thirst and hunger, weakness, fatigue, nausea, and vomiting.
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Type 2 Diabetes:
- Symptoms develop slowly, often with no noticeable signs: may include symptoms from type 1, along with blurred vision, slow healing of skin, infections, and numbness in extremities.
-
Gestational Diabetes:
- Symptoms can be absent; testing required during pregnancy; symptoms mirror type 2 diabetes.
Complications of Diabetes
- Potential complications include:
- Kidney disease (diabetic nephropathy).
- Blindness (diabetic retinopathy).
- Increased risk of heart disease and stroke (2 to 4 times more likely).
- Nerve damage.
- Severe foot sores, potentially leading to amputations.
- Diabetic coma from critically high blood sugar levels.
Diagnosis of Diabetes
-
Fasting Blood Glucose Test:
- Diagnoses diabetes if levels are 126 mg/dL or higher after an 8-hour fast.
- Levels between 100-126 mg/dL indicate prediabetes.
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Hemoglobin A1c Test:
- Measures average blood glucose control over the past 3 months.
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Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT):
- Diagnoses diabetes if glucose levels reach 200 mg/dL or higher post-consumption of a glucose solution.
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Screening Recommendations:
- Overweight children, adults with risk factors, and individuals over 45 should be screened for T2D.
Treatment and Management
- While there is no cure, diabetes management includes lifestyle modifications, monitoring blood sugar, and possibly medication or insulin therapy to maintain proper glucose levels.
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Description
This quiz explores the essential aspects of diabetes mellitus, a chronic condition affecting millions. You'll learn about its causes, the role of insulin, and the implications of hyperglycemia on health. Test your knowledge about this important metabolic disorder.
