Chronic Disorder Management: Diabetes Type 2

Running head: CHRONIC DISORDER MANAGEMENT
CHRONIC DISORDER MANAGEMENT
Name of the student:
Name of the university:
Author note:

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CHRONIC DISORDER MANAGEMENT
Introduction:
The assignment would be mainly describing in details about a 30 year old patient who is
suffering from diabetes type 2. She had children to take care and therefore, she feels the need to
undertake changes in her life. She wants to develop self-management abilities by which she can
manage her own symptoms and prevent occurrence of any complications in her health. This
assignment would first discuss the pathophysiology of the disorder and the risk factors associated
with it. This assignment would thereby help in addressing the social determinants of health that
might affect her in developing self-management abilities and accordingly recommendations
would be made to her so that she can live better quality life.
Pathophysiology of the disorder:
Diabetes type 2 can be described as the health condition when the glucose levels of the
blood remains high. In normal conditions, the hormone insulin released from the beta cells in the
islets of Langerhans present in the pancreas mainly gets released when level of glucose increases
in blood after intake of food (Powers et al., 2017). This helps the cells of the body to respond in
ways by which they can absorb the glucose from the blood and use them for respiration and
production of energy. This energy drives the different organs to carry on their physiological
functions in the body to carry out essential activities in lives (Garber et al., 2016). In case of
patients with diabetes type 2, it has been found that the cells of the body become non responsive
even when insulin remains present in the blood. This prevents the glucose from the blood in
being absorbed by cells and so respiration and energy production cannot take place. Insulin
resistance by the cells can be attributed to that of the increased levels free fatty acids and pro-
inflammatory cytokines in plasma and this is seen to decrease glucose transport into the body

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CHRONIC DISORDER MANAGEMENT
cells. However, this abnormality also accompanies another physiological issue faced by the
body. In most cases, insulin secretion sufficiently and insulin resistance together results in
development of diabetes type 2 affecting the health of the individuals (Lean et al., 2018). The
patient in the case had developed diabetes type-2 resulting in increased blood glucose level
affecting the use of blood glucose in the production of energy. This increases the hence of organ
failure due to lack of energy required for functioning.
Risk factors for the disorder:
Some of the risk factors that contribute to the development of such disorder are heavy
weight being the main contributor of the insulin resistance in affected individuals. Another risk
factor that also acts as the contributor is the inactivity as well as lack of physical exercises. Often
family history also becomes a contributing risk factor for the development of diabetes type 2.
Race, age above 45, polycystic ovarian syndrome is some of the risk factors that result in the
development of the diabetes type 2 (Garber et al., 2017). In case of the patient, it was seen that
she was overweight and had sedentary lifestyles where she found no motivation for undertaking
of physical exercises and living an active life. Furthermore, her pregnancy period had made her
lazier and even after giving birth to her baby; she is seen to be inactive throughout the days.
Apart from that she was found to have family full of people suffering from diabetes which
indeed mark as a risk factor for her development of the disorder.
Inability of self-management:
Studies are of the opinion that diabetes type 2 can be successfully controlled when
individuals can develop self-management abilities and take care of their own selves successfully
(Chravala et al., 2016). The affected individuals should concentrate on preparing home cooked

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foods that need to be high on organic food products and nutritious food products with high
amount of fibers. They need to maintain their diets, check nutrition labels, drink plenty of water,
avoid salt in food and others. However, the patient in the case is observed to feel quite tired after
attending to her infant’s need throughout the day and also has no one to help her regarding it.
Therefore, she feels it to be easier to take in fast foods and take –away foods as she feels it is
hassle free and does not require her shopping and cooking (Chaudhury et al., 2017). Hence, she
does not cook her own food. Moreover, she gets tired and is yet not able to manage her time after
caring for the baby. She tried to relax by watching television, playing games on smart phones,
reading fashion magazines and others. Hence, she is also failing to undertake exercises and
physical activities important for diabetes management. She is careless about her medications and
feel that they handle make any difference. She even does not use the glucometer as she has
apathy towards it (Davies et al., 2018). In this way, she is failing in self-managing her disorder.
Studies are of the opinion that people need to alter their lifestyle choices and adopt health
behaviors that enable them to manage their diabetes symptoms. Individuals need to follow strict
low-carbohydrate diets with higher amounts of fruits and vegetables to prevent accumulation of
calories. They also need to ensure that they undertake rigorous physical activities that help them
burn their calories. Medication management is important to ensure blood glucose level and
prevent any dangerous situations like rising of complications and organ failures. No such self-
management attributes were found among the patient. She should be taught how smoking and
drinking affect the symptoms of diabetes so that she quits the behavior.
Social determinants of health that impede self-management:
Social determinants can be described as the living conditions where people are seen to
take birth, grow, live their life, survive and face death. Studies are of the opinion that social