Question

Case Study about Carbohydrate -Related Medical Problem (Diabetes Mellitus)
Patient History: RX, a 6-year-old girl in previously good health, has noticed that, in the past
month, she is increasingly thirsty. She gets up several times a night to urinate, and finds herself
gulping down large amount of water. At the dinner table, she seems to be eating twice as much
as she used to, yet she has lost 4 kilograms in the past month. In the past three days, she has
become nauseated, vomiting on three occasions, prompting a visit to her pediatrician.
Laboratory Results:
 Fasting blood glucose level = 445 mg/dl
 blood pH level = 7.23
 Hb A1C = 9.5%
 C-Peptide Test = 0.4 ng/ml
 urine = tested positive for glucose and for acetone / acetoacetate/ beta hydroxybutyric
acid
Based on the given case, answer the following guide questions:

1. Explain why RX is urinating so frequently.
2. How is RX's condition like that of starvation? Address the role of glucagon in your
answer.
3. Based on your answer in no. 2, what foods will be highly recommended to the patient?
Explain.
4. Do you believe that you can adjust your diabetes drugs to ‘Cover’ whatever you eat?
Why?

Answer 1

1)  In diabetes, the level of sugar in the blood is abnormally high. Not all of the sugar can be reabsorbed and some of this excess glucose from the blood ends up in the urine where it draws more water. This results in unusually large volumes of urine.

2) In uncontrolled diabetes where blood glucose levels remain abnormally high ( hyperglycemia ), glucose from theblood cannot enter the cells – due to either a lack of insulin or insulin resistance – so the body can't convertthe food you eat into energy. This lack of energy causes an increase in hunger. The glucogon is released when there is no glucose for cells to use then glucogon is released which draws the glucose from non carbohydrate source causes weight loss

3) Healthy fats from nuts, olive oil, fish oils, flax seeds, or avocados. Fruits and vegetables—ideally fresh, the more colorful the better; whole fruit rather than juices. High-fiber cereals and breads made from whole grains. Fish and shellfish, organic chicken or turkey.Strictly avoid high sugary foods

4) If you use insulin for your diabetes, you may learn how to adjust the amount and type you take to match the amount of food you eat -- but this doesn't mean you can eat as much as you want and then just use additional drugs to stabilize your blood sugar level. If you use other types of diabetes drugs, don't try to adjust your dose to match varying levels of carbohydrates in your meals unless your doctor tells you to.