Investigate the treatment/management, and possible future directions

Investigate the treatment/management, and possible future directions for further research, of a non-infectious disease using an example from one of the non-infectious diseases categories listed above

Diabetes Management:
  • Diet
    • For Type 1 diabetics there will always be a need for insulin injections throughout their life.
    • However, both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetics patient can have a standard blood sugar level by controlling their diet, and some Type 2 diabetics can fully control the disease by dietary modification.
    • As diabetes can lead to many other complications it is critical to maintain blood sugars as close to normal as possible and diet is the leading factor in this level of control.
    • Diabetic patients show be put on a low carb diet to reduce the amount of sugar intake.
  • Medications
    • The most prevalent form of medication is hypoglycemic treatment through either oral hypoglycemics and/or insulin therapy.
    • There is emerging evidence that full-blown diabetes mellitus type 2 can be evaded in those with only mildly impaired glucose tolerance.
  • Insulin
    • Insulin therapy requires close monitoring and a great deal of patient education, as improper administration is quite dangerous. For example, when food intake is reduced, less insulin is required.
    • Dosage amount of insulin are generally prescribed by doctors and should be administered as per physician’s instructions.
    • Several companies are currently working to develop a non-invasive version of insulin, so that injections can be avoided. Mankind has developed an inhalable version, while companies like Novo Nordisk, Oramed and BioLingus have efforts undergoing for an oral product.
  • Weight reduction and exercise improve tissue sensitivity to insulin and allow its proper use by target tissues.
Possible future directions and further improvements in diabetes treatment and prevention:
  • Type 1 diabetes
    • Although still in the very early stages of development, cell therapy is one of the biggest hopes towards developing a cure for diabetes, especially for type 1 diabetes. Replacing the missing insulin-producing cells has the potential to recover normal insulin production and cure patients.
    • Stopping the progression of the disease early in the process could preserve the cells and provide a cure for patients diagnosed early enough.
    • Another solution could be the creation of an “artificial pancreas”, a fully automated system that can measure glucose levels and inject the right amount of insulin into the bloodstream, just like a healthy pancreas would.
  • Type 2 diabetes
    • Inducing insulin production through different medications that include glucagon like peptides might be a future approach in improving diabetes treatment.
[Reference: The Future of Diabetes Treatment: Is a Cure Possible? ]

 

Extract from HSC Biology Stage 6 Syllabus. © 2017 Board of Studies NSW.

EasyBio > Non-infectious Disease and Disorders > Epidemiology > Investigate the treatment/management, and possible future directions


Investigate the treatment/management, and possible future directions for further research, of a non-infectious disease using an example from one of the non-infectious diseases categories listed above

Diabetes Management:

  • Diet
    • For Type 1 diabetics there will always be a need for insulin injections throughout their life.
    • However, both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetics patient can have a standard blood sugar level by controlling their diet, and some Type 2 diabetics can fully control the disease by dietary modification.
    • As diabetes can lead to many other complications it is critical to maintain blood sugars as close to normal as possible and diet is the leading factor in this level of control.
    • Diabetic patients show be put on a low carb diet to reduce the amount of sugar intake.
  • Medications
    • The most prevalent form of medication is hypoglycemic treatment through either oral hypoglycemics and/or insulin therapy.
    • There is emerging evidence that full-blown diabetes mellitus type 2 can be evaded in those with only mildly impaired glucose tolerance.
  • Insulin
    • Insulin therapy requires close monitoring and a great deal of patient education, as improper administration is quite dangerous. For example, when food intake is reduced, less insulin is required.
    • Dosage amount of insulin are generally prescribed by doctors and should be administered as per physician’s instructions.
    • Several companies are currently working to develop a non-invasive version of insulin, so that injections can be avoided. Mankind has developed an inhalable version, while companies like Novo Nordisk, Oramed and BioLingus have efforts undergoing for an oral product.
  • Weight reduction and exercise improve tissue sensitivity to insulin and allow its proper use by target tissues.

Possible future directions and further improvements in diabetes treatment and prevention:

  • Type 1 diabetes
    • Although still in the very early stages of development, cell therapy is one of the biggest hopes towards developing a cure for diabetes, especially for type 1 diabetes. Replacing the missing insulin-producing cells has the potential to recover normal insulin production and cure patients.
    • Stopping the progression of the disease early in the process could preserve the cells and provide a cure for patients diagnosed early enough.
    • Another solution could be the creation of an “artificial pancreas”, a fully automated system that can measure glucose levels and inject the right amount of insulin into the bloodstream, just like a healthy pancreas would.
  • Type 2 diabetes
    • Inducing insulin production through different medications that include glucagon like peptides might be a future approach in improving diabetes treatment.
[Reference: The Future of Diabetes Treatment: Is a Cure Possible? ]

Extract from HSC Biology Stage 6 Syllabus. © 2017 Board of Studies NSW.