Endocrine System: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Hypoglycaemia

This report discusses the pathophysiology of Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), its clinical manifestations, the clinical manifestations of hypoglycaemia, and how to manage and prioritize treatment for T2DM. It also suggests health professionals who can assist with T2DM management.

Endocrine System
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Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY..................................................................................................................................3
Pathophysiology of Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM)...............................................................3
Clinical manifestations of Type 2 diabetes mellitus....................................................................3
Clinical manifestations of hypoglycaemia...................................................................................4
How hypoglycaemia occurs and blood glucose level (BGL) that would indicate that Karl has
hypoglycaemia.............................................................................................................................4
Prioritise management for Karl...................................................................................................4
Health professionals to whom Karl could refer to.......................................................................5
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................6
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INTRODUCTION
Endocrine System is referred as the network of glands in body that regulate tissue function,
metabolism, reproduction, growth and development, mood, sleep etc. (Knoll, Lodish, & Sun,
(2015). This report is based on the case study of Karl who was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes
mellitus and prescribed medications. This report covers pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes
mellitus, its clinical manifestations, hypoglycemia clinical manifestations, how it occurs and
blood glucose level that indicate hypoglycemia.
MAIN BODY
Pathophysiology of Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM)
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is referred as a heterogeneous disorder with changing
occurrence among distinct ethnic groups. Its pathophysiology is characterized through declining
functioning of beta-cell, impaired regulation of production of hepatic glucose and peripheral
insulin resistance which eventually leads to beta cells failure. The prime events are supposed to
be an early shortfall in secretion of insulin and, in much of the patients, relative deficiency of
insulin in connotation with peripheral insulin resistance. The impaired secretion of insulin as
well as the insulin resistance contributes less or more jointly to pathophysiological conditions
development (Zaccardi, & et. al., (2016). The dysfunctioning of β-Cell is characterised through
impairment of initial insulin secretion phase during stimulation of glucose and may predate the
beginning of glucose bigotry in type 2 diabetes.
Clinical manifestations of Type 2 diabetes mellitus
The clinical manifestations of type 2 diabetes include increase thrust, unintended weight
loss, blurred vision, frequent urination, fatigue, slow healing sores, increase hunger, darkened
skin areas usually in neck and armpits, frequent infections, numbness or tingling in feet and
hands, wounds which do not heal etc. When there are high blood sugar levels in the body, the
kidneys try to eliminate does excess sugar through filtering it out from the blood. In that
situation, a person need to urinate more frequently (Zheng, Ley, & Hu, (2018). The energy level
of the person is impacted by type 2 diabetes and cause them feel tired. Dark skin patches are
form on the skin of person with type 2 diabetes which is called acanthosis nigricans. In the case
of Karl, all these clinical manifestations were found and thus, diagnosed with type 2 diabetes
mellitus.
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Clinical manifestations of hypoglycaemia
If Karl has vomiting and diarrhoea for more than a few hours, then he will be in the risk of
hypoglycaemia. The reaction of each individual to hypoglycaemia different. The main clinical
manifestations of hypoglycaemia includes an individual feeling shaky, irritability or impatience,
being nervous and anxious, fast heartbeat, sweating, clamminess and chills, confusion, nausea,
hunger, feeling sleepy, colour draining from skin, feeling lightheaded or dizzy, blurred or
impaired vision, headaches, feeling sleepy, numbness or tingling in tongue lips or cheeks, feeling
weak or having no energy, seizures, coordination issues, clumsiness and crying out during sleep
or nightmares. If an individual feel any of the clinical manifestations among these, then it
indicates as the situation of hypoglycaemia (Kallem, Pandita, & Gupta, (2017).
How hypoglycaemia occurs and blood glucose level (BGL) that would indicate that Karl has
hypoglycaemia
Hypoglycaemia is referred as a condition when the level of sugar in blood is lower than
normal. This condition results from numerous causes. It is a complication of diabetes treatment
and developed by taking too much diabetes medications or insulin or through delaying meals. It
can also be an outcome of poor nutrition, medications and other diseases. The hypoglycaemia
varies within certain range but if it goes below a particular range then it can get dangerous. A
low level of blood sugar triggers epinephrine release, the fight or flight hormone. It can cause
hypoglycaemia symptoms like sweating, anxiety, thumping heart and tingling. If the sugar level
in blood continues to low, the brain is not able to get enough glucose and stops functioning. This
can lead to confused thinking, difficulty in concentrating, slurred speech, drowsiness, blurred
vision and numbness (Abe, & Kalantar-Zadeh, (2015). If sugar levels in blood stays low for
longer time, starving brain of glucose and may lead to coma, seizures and very rarely death. It
occurs usually when the sugar levels in the blood is less than 70 mg per dL or 3.9 milimoles per
litre. It worsens when an individual feels visual disturbances, loss of consciousness, abnormal
behaviour and confusion, seizures etc. So, if Karl had hypoglycaemia, then it is indicated when
he has sugar level in blood is less than 70 mg per dL or 3.9 milimoles per litre.
Prioritise management for Karl
In the situation when the blood glucose level of Karl is 3.6 milimoles per litre, then it can
be managed through setting up an insulin therapy. Then, he is going through endoscopy that need
him to be reserved nil by mouth; resulted to this it can lead to a significant drop in glucose level
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in blood. Apart from this, regular monitoring of blood glucose level is done in every 15 to 30
minutes until the blood glucose level reached to 6.6 milimoles per litre and beyond. Then,
keeping the insulin infusion as it manages the glucose level in blood and then reduce it as it
reaches to 6.6 milimoles per litre. It is very necessary to provide the patient with safe and quality
care (Hausenblas, Schoulda, & Smoliga, (2015).
Health professionals to whom Karl could refer to
On the basis of the provided case study, the health professional to whom Karl can be
referring to for assistance with type 2 diabetes management is Endocrinologists. They are
specialised in glands of endocrine system and help Karl in managing his condition in more
appropriate way by providing him with appropriate treatment and medications.
CONCLUSION
As per the above mentioned report, it has been concluded that Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a
chronic condition that influence the manner in which body process blood sugar. There are
several clinical manifestations of type 2 diabetes mellitus including increased hunger, blurred
vision, fatigue, frequent urination, infection, slow healing sores etc. It is very necessary to
manage blood glucose levels appropriately in order to eliminate chances of increasing
complexities. Endocrinologist is the best professional to manage with the disease in an
appropriate way.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Knoll, M., Lodish, H. F., & Sun, L. (2015). Long non-coding RNAs as regulators of the
endocrine system. Nature Reviews Endocrinology, 11(3), 151-160.
Zaccardi, F., & et. al., (2016). Pathophysiology of type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus: a 90-year
perspective. Postgraduate medical journal, 92(1084), 63-69.
Zheng, Y., Ley, S. H., & Hu, F. B. (2018). Global aetiology and epidemiology of type 2 diabetes
mellitus and its complications. Nature Reviews Endocrinology, 14(2), 88.
Kallem, V. R., Pandita, A., & Gupta, G. (2017). Hypoglycemia: when to treat?. Clinical
Medicine Insights: Pediatrics, 11, 1179556517748913.
Abe, M., & Kalantar-Zadeh, K. (2015). Haemodialysis-induced hypoglycaemia and glycaemic
disarrays. Nature Reviews Nephrology, 11(5), 302.
Hausenblas, H. A., Schoulda, J. A., & Smoliga, J. M. (2015). Resveratrol treatment as an adjunct
to pharmacological management in type 2 diabetes mellitus—systematic review and
meta‐analysis. Molecular nutrition & food research, 59(1), 147-159.
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