Good Characteristics Of Smokers With Type 2 Diabetes Research Paper Example

Introduction

The imbalance in the levels of glucose in the blood is a primary cause of type 2 diabetes. Patients with type 2diabetes suffer from insulin resistance thus the sugar levels cannot balance. The condition causes adverse effects to the body due to the inability of the cells to function properly. The effects include damage to the blood vessel in the eyes, heart and the kidney and atherosclerosis that can eventually lead to stroke or heart attack.
Although the majority of cases of patients with type 2 diabetes are active smokers, studies have shown that the condition can also be present in passive smokers. By the end of 2014, 90% of an estimated 387 million people with diabetes worldwide had the type 2 diabetes. If the condition is not well maintained, the number of patients is expected to increase to 592 million in less than two decades. The disease is costly with an estimated economic cost of $ 61 billion in 2014 globally. The condition develops slowly over time, and the smokers may not even realize that they are ill until they fall ill. This paper is thus aimed at evaluating the possible features of smokers with type 2 diabetes. The results and methodology of the research that was carried out from 2002 to 2012 are explained.

Methods

The research involved a sample size of 277 smokers above the age of 18 years who had type 2 diabetes. The patients were enrolled in an IRB-approved smoking cessation program for six weeks so as to help them in efforts to quit smoking (Folan, Savrin, & McDonald, 2014). The program lasted from 2002 to 2012. The medication used in the cessation programs included nicotine lozenges, gums, and inhalers. Prior to the program, secondary data had been collected, and it was used as a benchmark to analyze the characteristics of the patients.
The research used questions regarding co-morbidities, smoking history and demographics that were developed back in 1999 by original researchers. The questionnaire developed by the previous researchers was used in the primary data collection methods. A six-item test on the FTND was designed to determine the level of dependence on nicotine by the smokers. The scores ranged from 0 to 10 where a high score indicated higher dependence level. The level of carbon monoxide in the smokers was measured using the Bedfont hand-held meter. This was done before the program, after 30 days and finally after 6 months. the study analyzed characteristics such as level of nicotine dependence, motivation for quitting smoking, readiness to quit smoking, general demographics such as age, gender and sex. Further, it also included the analysis of co-morbid conditions, use of cessation medicines, quit rates, and triggers for past relapses.
Data was analyzed using the SAS Version 9.3 software. The analysis used the descriptive statistics, dispersion and measures of central tendency. Standard variations and means of the data were also used. The relationship between the dependent variables was analyzed using the logistic regression while the independent variables used Wald Chi-square.

Results

All the smokers went through the program successfully. The respondents who reported ethnicity as the major cause of smoking, 70.4% were Caucasians, 14.4 were African Americans, 8% were Hispanics and the rest belonged to other ethnic communities (Folan, Savrin, & McDonald, 2014). About 24% of the patients reported having been hospitalized in the past year.

Body Weight

Body weight is one of the observable features that may indicate symptoms of type 2 diabetes. The sudden loss or gain of weight should be a warning sign of type 2 diabetes among smokers. Smokers who are obese have a reason to get tested for the condition. This is because the accumulation of fat in the body makes it hard for the blood to use insulin. The insulin resistance leads to the inability of the blood cells to store glucose for energy. The cells are thus not able to function efficiently, leading to complications that can threaten one’s life.

Increased urination

Increased urination (polyuria) may also be a symptom that a smoker could be suffering from type 2diabetes. Due to the insulin resistance, the blood sugar in the blood may increase leading to a necessity in excretion. The patient frequently urinates a factor that further increases thirst. Due to the imbalance of the glucose levels, the sugar may build up in the blood, leading to increased urination that may eventually lead to dehydration. When the excess sugar accumulates in the blood, the kidneys have to filter it throughout. The excess glucose is excreted in combination with water that is drawn from other body tissues.
This implies that increased thirst (polydipsia) is another symptom that patients should look out for. The high level of glucose in the blood increases the functioning of the kidney leading to frequent urination and consequently thirst. It is a body's response to low water in the blood as a result of high sugar levels. The abnormal thirst is not quenched even after drinking a lot of fluids because the insulin resistance inhibits the control of sugar in the blood. The fluids are not absorbed in the blood but are excreted leading to more thirst. When sugar is lost through frequent urinations, the body loses a lot of calories that further weakens it. This may result in weight loss.

Increased Hunger

Constant hunger is also another characteristic of smokers with type 2 diabetes a condition known as polyphagia. The glucose from food may not reach the cells a factor that may lead to constant hunger. The hunger increases appetite that further leads to weight gain that causes obesity. If the food does not reach the body cells, the body responds by hunger.

Blurred vision

Blurred vision is the other characteristic of smokers who have the type 2 diabetes. One of the effects of the condition is damage to the nerves and blood vessels. This includes those that are located in the eye leading to blurred vision. Further, the blurred vision may be due to absorption of glucose in the lens of the eye altering its shape. The unclear vision may also be due to the inability of eyes to focus. When the blood sugar is high, the tendency of less dilute fluids to move to the more concentrated areas sets in. The sugar absorbs the fluids in the eye lens in the blood leading to loss of focus. If the condition persists, new blood vessels may form in the eye retina damaging the established vessels. The changes in the eyes may lead to blindness in the long run if left untreated.

Fatigue

The patient may also feel tired due to the inactivity of the cells owing to low glucose levels. Due to the incapacity of blood cells to absorb glucose, the body lacks energy needed to function well leading to fatigue. In addition, the fatigue may be as a result of increased urination that leads to dehydration. During urination, the body loses a lot of calories necessary for the production of energy in the body. The result is one's feeling of fatigue and weakness in the body.

Conclusion

Smoking has been linked to diseases and has been identified as a major cause of the type 2diabetes. Smokers who are active or passive are at risk of being infected with the condition, but there are higher chances in the active smokers. There are many characteristics that smokers should watch out for in determining whether they could be suffering from type 2 diabetes. The abnormal changes in weight, thirst, hunger and fatigue are warning signs of the condition. Blurred vision and increased urination are also other symptoms that they should look out for. The condition leads to life –threatening complications such as stroke and heart attack. If the characteristics of the disease among smokers are detected early enough, it may save many lives that are lost due to late diagnosis. The condition is preventable through avoidance of factors that increase the risk of falling ill. These include consumption of fatty foods and smoking. Eating healthy food and getting involved in physical exercise are some of the ways that can help mitigate the risk.

References

Folan, P., Savrin, C., & McDonald, P. E. (2014). Characteristics of smokers with type 2 diabetes. Applied Nursing Research, 27, 72-77. doi:10.1016/j.apnr.2013.11.007That's the source