Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: Impact on a Child's Life

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The case study chosen for this assignment is case study #2: Hannah is a 10-year-old girl who has recently been diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus. She is a 4th grade student at Hendricks Elementary School. Prior to her diagnosis, Hannah was very involved in sports and played on the girls’ volleyball team. Her mother is concerned about how the diagnosis will affect Hannah. While discussing how the diagnosis of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus will affect Hannah, information about the disease, symptoms and signs, how the body is affected by the disease, pathogenesis, as well as the economic impact it carries will be included. Diabetes Mellitus is defined as “a disease in which too little or no insulin is produced or insulin is produced but cannot be used normally resulting in high levels of sugar in the blood” (merriam-webster.com, 2016). Insulin is a hormone which regulates glucose, or blood sugar, ensuring that it is used as energy by the body’s cells. If the insulin levels are irregular, the glucose remains in the blood …show more content…

She will have to have full support from her family and friends to stay on track with her treatment, as well as taking care of herself. She will be undergoing regular insulin injections, either by shot or by pump. Hannah will also have to monitor her blood sugar levels before and after meals. If her physician allows, she will be able to resume her sports ambitions. Although, she will need to monitor her blood sugar levels closely while exerting herself because the blood sugar levels can drop dramatically during these times. If Hannah and her doctor decide to use an insulin pump for treatment, it can be set to avoid lowering blood sugar during and after exercise (mayoclinic.org, 2016). Diet changes are recommended if the patient is not eating healthy previous to diagnosis. Overall, after becoming adjusted to the new additions to her life, Hannah should be able to resume normal

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