Select one type of diabetes to focus on for this Discussion. Diabetes and Drug Treatments Diabetes and Drug Treatments Consider one type of drug used to treat the type of diabetes you selected, including proper preparation and administration of this drug. Then, reflect on dietary considerations related to treatment. Think about the short-term and long-term impact of the diabetes you selected on patients, including the effects of drug treatments.

Diabetes and Drug Treatments

Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a complex metabolic disorder characterized by marked hyperglycemia. Type 1 diabetes, also known as juvenile diabetes, is characterized by an absolute deficiency of insulin resulting from beta cell destruction. The disease is predominant in children and younger adults. Type 2 diabetes is characterized by a functional deficit of insulin attributable to insensitivity to the insulin produced or insulin secretory defects. This type is most predominant among older adults. Gestational diabetes is a subtype of DM that manifests during the gestation period.
Metformin maintains effectiveness in type DM and is the first line of management for the disease. Metformin lowers the amount of glucose absorbed from the gut, enhances tissue’s sensitivity to the insulin produced, and lowers considerably glucose produced in the liver (Lv & Guo, 2020). Metformin exists in tablet and oral solutions in strengths of 500mg, 850mg, and 1000mg for immediate-release formulations and 500mg, 750mg, and 1000mg for extended-release formulations. For monotherapy with biguanides, metformin is started at a dose of 500mg every 12 hours and titrated to a maximum of 1000mg every 24 hours.
Metformin is often used adjunctively with diet, exercise, and other lifestyle modifications to optimize glycemic control. Dietary considerations to ensure optimal glycemic control include lowering calorific intake by consuming foods low in calories and high in fiber and vegetables, a low-fat diet, and lowering alcohol consumption (Neuenschwander et al., 2019). Type 2 DM is a progressive disease. The short-term impacts of the disease include hyperglycemia, polyuria, dehydration, and others. The hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state may arise in poorly controlled disease. In the long term, microvascular and macrovascular diabetic complications may arise. Microvascular complications include diabetic retinopathy, nephropathy, and neuropathy, while macrovascular complications include coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, and others (Graves & Donaghue, 2020). With medication use, hypoglycemia may arise.

References

Graves, L. E., & Donaghue, K. C. (2020). Vascular complication in adolescents with diabetes mellitus. Frontiers in Endocrinology, 11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2020.00370
Lv, Z., & Guo, Y. (2020). Metformin and its benefits for various diseases. Frontiers in Endocrinology, 11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2020.00191
Neuenschwander, M., Ballon, A., Weber, K. S., Norat, T., Aune, D., Schwingshackl, L., & Schlesinger, S. (2019). Role of diet in type 2 diabetes incidence: Umbrella Review of meta-analyses of prospective observational studies. BMJ, l2368. https://doi.org/10.1136/