Question a
Diabetes mellitus (also type 2 diabetes) is a medical condition affecting the body’s use and conversion of energy. It may arise from various biological malfunctions such as over-secretion of glucagon hormone, insufficient secretion of insulin and resistance to regulation of glucose levels by insulin hormone. The condition may arise either from poor diets or from the effect of hereditary and environmental factors. Excessive consumption of high calorific foods, minimal exercising and obesity are some of the predisposing factors that may make one susceptible to the disease. This is especially so when these factors supplement genetic factors. The main risk factors are overweight (over 120% of the recommended weight as per BMI), hypertension and high cholesterol levels, and insulin resistance that may be due to polycystic ovarian syndrome. High stress levels and depression are also major causes of diabetes in many individuals.
Diabetes mellitus is manageable through several approaches. These require the combined effort of both physicians and the patient’s family. They include a vigorous adherence to medication and insulin injections. Dietary changes and regular exercise is another way of restoring a state of balance in the blood sugar from time to time. It is also good habit to establish regular medical check-ups and self-monitoring of the level of blood sugar.
Anemia is a medical condition whereby the patient suffers from an abnormally low count of red blood cells. This may be due to sudden loss of large quantities of blood or an anatomical complication resulting in a decrease in the production of hemoglobin or red blood cells. It is possible to determine the absence or presence of the condition in an individual through a complete blood cell count.
Anemia may also result from a poor diet that results in iron deficiency in the body. Genetics may also have a role to play, for example in sickle cell anemia. Some common symptoms of the condition include perpetual fatigue, headaches or light-headedness and paleness of the skin and fingernails. Tests such as the red blood count and reticulocyte count are used to test for anemia. The most common treatments include supplementing the deficient nutrients that comprise blood and hemoglobin (iron, minerals and vitamins). Medical interventions through drugs such as erythropoietin are also available. In severe cases, blood transfusion is the most effective solution. If left unattended anemia may result minimal supply of oxygen to vital body organs resulting in organ failures and possible heart attack.
Hemiplegia is a condition whereby one-half of the body is paralyzed completely. Hemiplegia may result from several causes such as stroke. This is whereby inadequate supply of blood to the brain results in loss of functionality of the brain. Other causes may include brain tumors, diabetes, meningitis and injury to the brain. The most common symptoms of the condition are numbness of half the body, speech difficulties and blurred vision. Testing is possible through cranial MRI’s and CT scans of the brain. The condition is not easy to manage but rehabilitation and neuromuscular electrical stimulation offer alternatives to recovery.
Question b
The normal level of glucose in blood is 90-130 mg/dL, depending on whether the individual being measured for blood sugar has eaten recently or not. Blood pressure varies depending of the sex, age and health of an individual, but the normal range is 120/80mmHg. The normal range for calcium level in a healthy adult is about 90-130 mg/dL. This varies with the age and health of the individual. For men the normal range of hemoglobin is 14-18 g/dL while for women the normal range is 11-16 g/dL.
Question c
Diabetes mellitus may arise from various biological malfunctions such as over-secretion of glucagon hormone, insufficient secretion of insulin and resistance to regulation of glucose levels by insulin hormone. It causes imbalances in the level of glucose. This means significant fluctuations over and under the normal range (90-130 mg/dL). Anemia is the severe decline in the level of hemoglobin in blood (below 14g/dL and 11g/dL in men and women respectively).
