Epidemiology and Pathophysiology of Type 2 Diabetes

Running head: TYPE 2 DIABETES
TYPE 2 DIABETES
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Introduction
This essay highlights a case study of Jenny, who was 58 years old, and was suffering
from fatigue, slight tickling in her feet and blurred vision. Jenny also experienced frequent
urge to urinate and was continuously feeling thirsty. On diagnosis, it was revealed that she
was suffering from type 2 diabetes mellitus. Hence, this essay will highlight the
epidemiology of diabetes type 2 comprising of occurrence, morbidity, mortality and
prevalence rate in Australia (DeFronzo et al., 2015). The pathophysiology of the condition
will also be highlighted in the essay focusing on the altered blood glucose level that leads to
the onset of condition. The nursing care strategy will be discussed with a long term
complication developed due to type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Epidemiology of Type 2 Diabetes
1. Incidence Rate
Diabetes is considered as the most challenging and epidemic health condition in
Australia’s health care system. Approximately 1 million population of Australia is suffering
from type 2 diabetes mellitus in the year 2014-15. More than 280 Australians suffer or
develop diabetes every single day, which states that 1 person develop diabetes in every 5
minutes (Aihw.gov.au, 2019). Approximately 1 million cases of hospitalization was reported
in the year 2015-16 due to diabetes resulting in 16,400 death of Australians in 2015, majority
of the death was because of type 2 diabetes mellitus. The rate of diabetic condition is high in
Australia and approximately 100,000 Australians had developed diabetes in 2015.
2. Age of onset
Diabetes type 2 is considered as an advanced condition where the patient’s body becomes
resilient to the standard amount of insulin or the body cannot produce adequate amount of
insulin. More than 90% of diabetic cases are due to type 2 diabetes mellitus, which generally

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develops in the adults who are more than 45 years of age but now the condition is also
affecting the younger children, adults and adolescence (Diabetesaustralia.com.au, 2019). The
threat of developing type 2 diabetes rises if the individual is more than 45 years of age and is
suffering from obesity or high blood pressure and also if a person has a past background
history of diabetes. The population of Aboriginal strait islander who are more than 35 years
of age are under risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus.
3. Prevalence Rate
The occurrence rate of type 2 diabetes is high in Australia as estimated from the survey
conducted by Australia Bureau of Statistics. Approximately 1.2 million population aged more
than 2 years are diagnosed with diabetes and the prevalence rate was almost doubled from the
year 1989-90 to 2004-05 (Health.gov.au, 2019). The prevalence rate had increased upto
4.4%-5.1% in the year 2014-15. The condition of type 2 diabetes is very prevalent in
Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander population of Australia affecting 12.8% of population
who are aged more than 15 years. In 2014-15, more than 85% of the population were
diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
4. Morbidity Rate
In the year 2017-18, 1 in every 20 Australians were suffering from diabetes. From the
year 2001, rate of type 2 diabetes mellitus has been increasing with the rate of 3.3% and has
now reached a stability with the same morbidity rate in the year 2014-15. The risk of diabetes
is more common in males than compared to females, with 5.5% chances of developing
diabetes type 2 in males and 4.3% chances of developing diabetes type 2 in females
(Abs.gov.au, 2019). The risk of diabetes is increasing with age and affect people who are
aged 45 years and above.

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5. Mortality Rate
Diabetes in general is considered as a chronic condition, where type 2 diabetes is more
common and affect large population than type 1 diabetes. In 2016, more than 4,770
Australians died because of diabetes mellitus hence making this health condition as the
leading reason of death all over Australia (Abs.gov.au, 2019). The standard death rate in
Australia was 16.2 death per 1 million people, where the death rate is increasing every year.
The death rate is higher in males as compared to female. Before the year 2016, diabetes was
considered as one of the sixth major reason of demise in Australia.
Pathophysiology of Type 2 Diabetes
From the case study it was highlighted that Jenny was exhibiting the symptoms of
diabetes type 2 like blurred vision, ticking sensation in her feet, fatigue, urge to urinate and
frequent sense of feeling thirsty. The pathophysiology of each symptom is related to the
condition of developing diabetes type 2. Initially, it is crucial to recognize the
pathophysiology leading to type 2 diabetes by altering the normal blood glucose level in an
individual. Type 2 diabetes mellitus generally result due to the progression of insulin
resistance (Zaccardi et al., 2016). Insulin resistance is defined as the condition when human
body is incapable of responding or reacting to the insulin produced by the body that in turn
affects the normal blood glucose level and in turn increase the total level of blood sugar
resulting in type 2 diabetes. It can also develop due to abnormal dysfunction of pancreatic
beta cells. Approximately 80% of the population who have type 2 diabetes mellitus are
suffering from obesity that results in releasing high amount of unrestricted fatty acids, which
leads to the condition of insulin resistance in muscle cells and liver (Cersosimo et al., 2018).
This condition results in amplified gluconeogenesis within the liver, thereby inhibiting the
uptake of insulin-mediated glucose by the muscle cells, which results in increased level of
circulating glucose in the blood. With the increased production of free fatty acids more and