Diabetes and Its Correlation to Nutrition

I chose to do my research paper on diabetes and how it correlates with nutrition. I have a
younger sister that has type 1 diabetes; she was diagnosed when she was eight years old and it
has affected her life immensely. She has been struggling to maintain her blood sugar and has
acquired other medical conditions such as arthritis, asthma, and eczema. I am doing this topic
because I am interested in learning more about diabetes and which other diseases are associated
with it. I want to learn more about how nutrition can help people with diabetes to live a healthy
lifestyle and regulate their body.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “diabetes is the condition
in which the body does not properly process food for energy” (CDC). The food we eat turns into
glucose and is regulated by insulin. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that pulls
glucose from the blood to the cells to give them energy. This means that people with diabetes
will have a higher than normal blood sugar level. In the United States, blood sugar is normally
measured in milligrams of glucose per deciliter of blood (abbreviated as mg/dL)
(diabetesselfmanagement). A normal level for someone without diabetes is less than 100 mg/dL,
whereas if it is 126 mg/dL or higher, you are considered diabetic. The most common types of
diabetes are the following: type 1, type 2, and gestational. The less common types are monogenic
diabetes and cystic fibrosis-related diabetes, which are the “inherited” types of diabetes. A few
types of diabetes will be discussed below.
Type one diabetes is when the body stops producing insulin over time. The immune
system starts to attack and damage the cells in their pancreas that produce insulin and they
eventually die off, leaving the body without necessary hormones. Scientists believe that this form
of diabetes is hereditary or may come from things in the environment such as viruses. This form
usually occurs in children or young adults; however, it can happen at any age. Some symptoms
of type one diabetes may be increased thirst and urination, increased hunger, blurred vision,
fatigue, and or unexplained weight loss (NIDDK). These symptoms usually occur quickly and
can lead to more serious symptoms like extreme fatigue or nausea.
People with type 1 diabetes need to take insulin for every meal through the form of a
syringe, pen, or an insulin pump. There are also other options that will become available in the
future such as an artificial pancreas. “The system is still being tested for safety and effectiveness
and, as of 2016, home and clinical trials of the system have been completed in participants with
both type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes” (Spero). This would be a major achievement for the
scientific community and would improve the lives of patients living with this disease. For a
diabetic before their meal, they want to aim to stay between 80-130 and under 180 after meals.
There are different types of insulin that can be used that may react faster or slower. For my sister,
she uses Lantus, a slow acting insulin that lasts for 24 hours, in the morning. Then with each
meal, she will inject Novolog, a fast reacting insulin. If people with type 1 diabetes do not have
insulin, they will die. For physicians and dieticians, this is crucial when educating the patients on
proper body care and nutrition (such as counting carbohydrates for proper dosing).
Out of all the forms of diabetes, the most common is type two. This is where your
pancreas does not make enough insulin, or it does not use insulin very well. Type 2 can be
obtained from insulin resistance, being overweight, and family genes. Unlike type 1, type 2, for
the most part, can be prevented by obtaining a healthy body weight and staying physically active.
The symptoms for type 2 are the same as type 1 diabetes, so it is very important to make sure
you know what type you have so you can treat it accordingly. People with type 2 diabetes do not
have to take insulin to stay alive if they are managing their blood sugar levels and cholesterol,
however the opposite is also true. “Along with following your diabetes care plan, you may need
diabetes medicines, which may include pills or medicine you inject under your skin, such as
insulin” (NIDDK). If they are not staying healthy and exercising, patients may need to take
insulin every now and then to maintain blood glucose.
Type 2 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes and is a major problem in the
United States. According to the CDC, almost 26 million Americans are afflicted with this
disorder (CDC). Because of these statistics, there is a large emphasis placed on treating and
managing diabetes. As mentioned, physicians and dieticians are the key people in charge of
patient education to promote good health practices and give nutritional tips. In the past, and
oftentimes in various medical settings, incorrect information that is non-evidence based is
provided for patients in treatment. To avoid these complications, “…it is recommended that a
registered dietitian, knowledgeable and skilled in implementing nutrition therapy into diabetes
management and education, be the team member providing medical nutrition therapy” (diabetes
journals.org). This provides a much safer and controlled educational experience while avoiding
or lessening future complications.
Another type is gestational diabetes which occurs when a mother that has not had
diabetes before, gets it while she is pregnant. This is thought to be caused by the hormones in the
placenta blocking the mother’s insulin production in her body. If it is not controlled properly
then the mother as well as the baby can be affected. This type of disease can stop after the
woman is pregnant or continue to stay even when she has had her child. One of the less common
types is monogenic diabetes which is from the mutation of a gene. Monogenic diabetes is not
very common and is usually obtained from parents to child or simply spontaneous. The cause
like other diabetes is not 100% known and is still currently being researched. Another less
common type is cystic fibrosis-related diabetes. This disease is mainly caused by insulin
insufficiency along with long term and short term sickness. The only real prevention and
detection of these types of diabetes is receiving frequent screenings from your doctor.
Some of the recommended dieting considerations are listed on the diabetesjournals.org
website. These recommendations include guidelines such as the following: “changes in eating
and physical activity habits”, “choices that facilitate moderate weight loss”, measuring
carbohydrate intake, replacing carbohydrates with monounsaturated fats, and others. Providing
resources in doctor’s offices and at regular diabetic-checking appointments can give further aide
and reference materials for patients as they work on improving their health condition.
Serious health conditions can result from lacking education. The CDC describes various
cases of limb amputations, cardiovascular disease, and kidney failure among others (CDC).
Someone with diabetes is more susceptible to getting these other diseases such as eczema and
arthritis. For these reasons, diabetes is one of the most dangerous diseases if left untreated.
Without recognition and instruction, dosing calculations can be misconstrued and conditions can
worsen; this is where nutritionists and physicians can come in. Prescribing medications and
promoting good adherence to medications is crucial to the treatment and maintenance of diabetes
and can make the difference between healthiness and unhealthiness.
 Works Cited

Artificial Pancreas, www.diabetes.co.uk/artifical-pancreas.html.

Kelly, Jane. Diabetes. Centers For Disease Control and Prevention, cdc.gov.

“Monogenic Diabetes (Neonatal Diabetes Mellitus & MODY).” National Insititute of

Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services, 1 Nov. 2017, www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/what-
is-diabetes/monogenic-neonatal-mellitus-mody.

Moran, Antoinette, et al. Diabetes Care, American Diabetes Association, Dec. 2010,
www.ncbi.hlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2992215/.

“Nutrition Principles and Recommendations in Diabetes.’ Diabetes Care, American Diabetes

Association, 1 Jan. 2004, care.diabetesjournals.org/content/27/suppl_1/s36.

Spero, David, and BSN. “What Is a Normal Blood Sugar Level?” Diabetes Self-Management,
www.diabestesselfmanagement.com/blog/what-is-a-normal-blood-sugar-level/.