Question

How does diet affect the course of diabetes mellitus (DM) and coronary artery disease? What signs and symptoms might indicate high and low blood sugar levels and what would the Medical Assistant do if her/his client had DM and CAD?

Answer 1

DIABETIS MELLITUS

Diabetis mellitus is a disease assosiated with high blood sugar level. The carbohydrate and sugar diet we take in is conveted to glucose in blood. When glucose level is high it has to be converted to glycogen and stored in body tissue. Insulin secreted by beta cells of pancreas is needed for this. In some persons there is lack of insulin or insulin resistance ( body not responding to insulin) for such patients blood sugar remains high and lead to DM.

High carbohydrate diet ( rice, wheat, sugars, chocolite) etc may lead to increased sugar level and patients with DM have to avoid such food at same time have to take high fibre diet, vegitables and vitamen suppliments to maintain a healthy body. Uncontolled DM can lead to multiorgan failure and diseases like diabetic retinopathy, diabetic neuropathy, diabetic nephropathy, oppertunistic infections.

Signs and symptoms of high blood sugar

Increased thirst

Headaches

Trouble concentrating

Blurred vision

Frequent peeing

Fatigue

Weight loss

Very high blood sugar may lead to loss of consciousness ( diabetic ketoacidosis or a hyperosmotic coma)

Signs of low blood sugar

Incresed sweating

Hunger

dizziness

palpitation

chills

seizures

loss of consciousness

Medical assistant has to advise patient to take regular exersice, low volume frequent diet. proper medication. Regular fasing and PPBS and HbA1C when ever needed.

CAD

When diet with high fat content is taken it is generally stored underneath skin, liver etc. For proper conertion of fat from blood to storage areas HDL is needed. Low density lipoprotein increses amount of fat blood. When patients have dislipidemia there will be excessive fat in blood and this may get deposited in blood vessels(artherosclerosis). fat deposision in blood vessels narrows blood vessels and result in iscemia to area supplied by particular blood vessel. When such ischemis occurs in artery supplying heart it is called coronary artery disease or CAD.

Such patients should avoid high calory diet, and diet rich in fat ( cheese, sandwith, fried items etc) but take food rich in fibers and vegitables.

Medical assistant should advise to do regular exersise, and regular 6 monthly check up of lipid profile. ECG and thread mill test if needed.