The relevant type of diabetes.

The physician will determine whether the patient has Type I or Type II D.M.

- Type I - insulin-dependent D.M. - most commonly occurs in children, although it may occur at any age. Since a person with Type I diabetes does not make enough of his own insulin, he must take insulin every day. Diet and exercises are also part of the treatment.

- Type II - non-insulin-dependent D.M. is more common: more than 80 % to 90% of all patients with diabetes have Type II diabetes. This type most occurs in overweight adults over age 40. A person with Type II diabetes produces some insulin, however, the insulin produced is not very effective, and the body cells resist it. Type II diabetes may be controlled with diet and exercises, but, in some cases, medications (such as oral pills or insulin) are required to control the blood glucose level.

Risk factors of diabetes.

The cause of diabetes is unknown. It is known to run in families, but it's not contagious. Other factors are obesity, pregnancy, physical or emotional stress (such as acute illness or accident), and aging. Diabetes is not caused by eating too much sugar.

 

The symptoms of the relevant type of diabetes.

Symptoms vary from person to person and between the two types of diabetes.

- in Type I diabetes, symptoms tend to be more acute than those of Type II diabetes and come on quickly, usually within several days to a few weeks. Symptoms include increased thirst, increased hunger, increased urination and weight loss. If the symptoms continue, the patient may develop nausea and vomiting, presence of ketones in the urine, severe weight and fluid loss, rapid breathing, a fruity or sweat-smelling odor to his breath, and loss of consciousness.

- In Type II diabetes, the symptoms are usually vague and occurs slowly, generally over weeks or months. The symptoms may be so mild that a person may have diabetes for a long time and not know it until a routine examination or procedure is performed. Common symptoms are increased thirst, increased urination, visual changes, itchiness, vaginal infections in women, sores that heal slowly, fatigue, weakness and irritability.

 

The components of diabetes management.

Treatment of diabetes is directed by the physician, but the responsibility for implementing the treatment rests with the patient. Therefore, to control his blood glucose, the patient will need to know how to manage the following:

- diet

- medications

- exercise program

- testing methods for sugar and ketone determinations

- acute problems

· hypoglicemia (low blood sugar)

· hyperglicemia (high blood sugar)

- guidelines for daily living and for skin and foot care

- guidelines for sick days.

GENITOURINARY DISORDERS

Genitourinary symptoms

- renal / bladder disorder

- sexual dysfunction

- neurologic impairment

Treatment of the g.d.

- medication

- surgery

- long-term therapy

- guidelines for daily living

- prevention of complications

- coping strategies

DISORDERS:

- benigh prostatic hyperplasia or benigh prostatic hypertrophy (B.P.H.),

- urinary tract infection (U.T.I.),

- incontinence,

- chronic renal failure.

Diagnostic tests:

- kidney-ureter-bladder (K.U.B.) radiography

- renal computerized tomography

- nephrotomography

- renal ultrasonography

- cystourethroscopy

- intravenous pyelography

- radionuclide renal imaging (renal scan)

- renal angiography

- retrograde cystography

- retrograde ureteropyelography

- cystometry

- voiding cystourethrography

- clean-catch midstream urine specimen

URINARY TRACT INFECTION (U.T.I.)

 

A broad term, UTI refers to the presence of pathogenic microorganisms in any portion of the urinary tract. It can occur as infection of the urethra (urethritis), the urethra and bladder (cystitis), or the urethra, ureters, bladder, and kidney (pyelonephritis). It's more common in women than in men.

The relevant causes of UTI.

 

- UTIs may occur after viral infections, such as mumps, measles, herpes, adenovirus or cytomegalovirus infections.

- The most common route of infection is from the urethra to the bladder.

The most common signs and symptoms of UTI.

The classic symptoms of UTI are frequency, urgency, and dysuria (often described as a burning sensation during urination). Hematuria may also occur. The patient may also complain of back pain, fever, chills, nausea, and vomiting.

The medication regimen.

Uncomplicated UTIs can be treated with any of several different courses of antimicrobial therapy.