Essays on Polydipsia

(Author’s affiliation) Diabetes is a polygenic disease characterized by significantly higher levels of glucose in the blood. In this disorder, metabolic disorders lead to persistent thirst (polydipsia) and excessive level of urination (polyuria). Diabetes is caused by insulin-related disturbances in the body. In healthy human beings, pancreatic β cells have insulin that is found as a hexamer having three insulin dimers attached together by two central zinc ions. The insulin monomer has a 21-residue A chain as well as a 30-residue B chain. These chains are cross-linked by two disulfide bridges, i.e. CysA20-CysB19 and CysA7-CysB7. There is also a ...

John, a 50-year old man, visits a convenient care clinic complaining of fatigue, increased hunger, increased thirst, and frequent urination over the last two months. He also reports increased episodes of itching. Clinical examination reveals the presence of dark patches on his skin in the neck and armpit areas. Physical examination reveals a weight loss of 5kg over the last one month. Laboratory test show the following results: A1C= 7.1%, FPG= 127mg/dL and OGTT= 202mg/dL. John is single and currently stays alone. He has one sister whom he last met two years ago. He is also not employed currently. ...

- How would propylthiouracil affect metabolic rate in a normal rat? Explain why.

It would decrease metabolic rate since propylthiouracil decreases the production of thyroid hormone (“Propylthiouracil,” n.d.).

- Explain the action of insulin on body cells.

Insulin acts on the body cells by promoting absorption of glucose from the blood stream to the body cells. This is done when insulin attaches to the insulin receptors in cells triggering a response that increases the levels glucose transporters (GLUT4) (Cartailler, n.d.).

- If the body is not producing enough insulin what happens to levels of that substance (your answer to ...

Introduction

Diabetes, which is commonly referred to as diabetes mellitus gives a description of diseases that relates to metabolism. An individual suffering from this disease has very high levels of blood glucose or blood sugars. This is because of inadequate insulin production. The other reason as to why a person may contract diabetes is because insulin may not be functioning properly. Patients suffering from high levels of blood sugar experience frequent urination which is at times known as polyuria. Such patients can at times get thirstier, a condition known as polydipsia, and hungry, which in this case is known as polyphagia. When ...

According to the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse, diabetes affects people of all ages (niddk.nih.gov). The 2011 National diabetes statistics show that approximately 26 million people of all ages have been suffering from diabetes in 2011, which is about 8 percent of the U.S population (niddk.nih.gov). In 2011 alone, approximately 26 million people had diabetes; 18.8 million of them were diagnosed with diabetes and another 7 million people were undiagnosed (niddk.nih.gov). Numbers and facts demonstrate the seriousness of the disease that is the leading cause for heart disease, kidney failure, stroke and blindness, among others, and affects the 26.9 percent ...