Case Study For Health and Addictive Behaviour Psychology Essay

Case Study For Health and Addictive Behaviour Psychology - Essay Example It is estimated that about 2.6million people suffer from this condition in the UK (Diabetes UK, 2010). There are basically 2 types of diabetes mellitus and they are type-1 and type-2. In type-1 DM, the onset is in young age like childhood, adolescence or even early adulthood. It occurs due to absolute deficiency of insulin as a result of destruction of the beta-cells in the pancreas. On the other hand, type-2 DM occurs mainly in adults, especially in older people and is mainly predisposed by several factors including sedentary lifestyle and obesity. Type-2 accounts for more than 85 percent cases of diabetes (Diabetes UK, 2010). Hereditary factors play an important role in this type of diabetes, either due to genetic predisposition or due to similar behavioral patterns in the families like sedentary lifestyle and eating habits. DM-2 occurs due to a combination of decreased secretion of beta cells in the pancreas and increased peripheral resistance to insulin at tissue-receptor level ( Votey, 2005). DM-2 is the most common type of diabetes. It is managed by pharmacotherapy and appropriate diet and exercise. Diet and exercise have a major role to play in the treatment of diabetes-2. Adam was diagnosed with diabetes type-2 9 months ago. He has been advised to control his blood sugar levels with appropriate diet and exercise, rather than initiating antidiabetic medications. Antihypoglycemic therapy is initiated only when it is not possible to control diabetes through diet and exercise (Diabetes UK, 2010). It is very important to treat and control diabetes because of the notorious complications associated with it. Adam is obese and has been advised to reduce his weight. The main defect in diabetes type-2 is the inability of the tissues to respond to insulin. There is also decreased production of insulin by pancreas. Both these amount to increased glucose levels in the blood, known as hyperglycemia. An important causative factor is obesity. This is more so when obesity is more around the waist, known as central obesity (Votey, 2005). Obesity leads to decreased resistance of tissues to insulin. The fatty acid and triglyceride levels are high and these further interfere with insulin signaling. Another important aspect in obesity which influences the development of diabetes is dysregulation of the secretion of adipokine which is a hormone that causes peripheral resistance to insulin and contributes to the development of diabetes. Thus, obesity has a major role to play in the development of the most common form of diabetes, type-2 diabetes. 1.2 Complications of Diabetes Diabetes leads to increased catabolism and decreased anabolism. After reaching the renal threshold level of 180mg per dl, glucosuria occurs. This contributes to polyuria and polydipsia. Decreased levels of glucose in the cells contributes to delay in the healing of the wounds and also development of recurrent infections. it also causes lipolysis for generation of energy. Lipolysis cau ses an increase in the free fatty acid levels whih are taken up by the liver. Metabolism of free fatty acids in the liver yields ketone bodies, hydroxybutyric acid and acetoacetic acid. As the production of ketone bodies increases, metabolic acidosis ensues, resulting in dehydration. Infact, in many cases, diabetic ketoacidosis is the first presentation and it can turn fata due to development of cerebral edema. Increased lipolysis can