Hypoglycemia Case Study

Diabetes mellitus is a common, chronic, and complex metabolic disorder with two distinct types [1]. Almost 10% of the United States population, or 30.3 million people have diabetes. Nearly 25% of individuals with diabetes are undiagnosed. In 2012, the overall cost for treatment of diabetes patients was nearly $250 billion. On average $8,000 is spent annually on medical expenditures directly related to diabetes per diagnosed individual, which is more than twice the cost for their nondiabetic counterparts [2]. Diabetes type 1 is the result of autoimmune extermination of pancreatic islet cells. Onset is frequently abrupt and is influenced by genetics and certain environmental risk factors that appear to be unrelated. Presenting symptoms may be subacute with polydipsia, polyphagia, polyuria, malaise and weight loss, or more acute with symptoms such as visual disturbances and ketoacidosis. It is more often diagnosed in childhood but, may occur at any age [3].