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DIABETES AND OTHER HEALTH ISSUES 1

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DIABETES AND OTHER HEALTH ISSUES

Neurological and Musculoskeletal Pathophysiologic Processes In Diabetes, and Ethnic Variables That Affect a Patient’s Physiological Functioning

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Neurological and Musculoskeletal Pathophysiologic Processes

The patient’s symptoms are fever, chills, and pain, swelling in the right great toe, sudden symptoms and pain upon putting weight on his foot. Among the neurological processes that lead to these symptoms is peripheral neuropathy, the process of damage of the patient’s nerves, interfering with their ability to move or sense, as well as other bodily functions such as digestion. Diabetes mellitus can cause peripheral and autonomous neuropathies, with pain being a cardinal symptom of peripheral somatic nerve damage in diabetics, and it is a typical neuropathic pain type (Drewes et al, 2016).

On musculoskeletal pathophysiologic processes, Charcot osteoarthropathy is among the major causes of the patient’s symptoms, as it leads to damage of the body’s joints and bones, hence their inability to properly function. Additionally, the joint problems may lead to presentation of other symptoms such as fever and pain. Charcot osteoarthropathy (COA; Charcot joint, neuropathic arthropathy) is a progressive, denervating, and degenerative disease of the foot and ankle joints, which causes damage and deformities of the joint if left untreated, causing symptoms such as swelling and acute inflammation in the foot, fever and pain (Sözen, 2018). Further, the use of hydrochlorothiazide medication increases blood sugar levels, a condition that yields negative effects on diabetic patients.

Racial or Ethnic Variables That May Impact Physiological Functioning, and How The Processes Interact to Affect The Patient

Some races may have limited access to healthcare and medication, resulting to variables that are not only economically driven, but also racially. For example, in the US (United States), some racial minorities may have no or limited access to healthcare services. Consequently, there is failure to attend to these patients, disease outbreaks, or properly treat a certain illness in a patient from this group. Compared to NHWs (non-Hispanic whites)-which refers to non-minority individuals in the US-minorities with diabetes often lack health insurance hence less frequent foot and ophthalmological examinations and other preventive health care services (Sözen, 2018). The inaccessibility to appropriate healthcare and preventive intervention lead to various effects to the population such as being prone to developing chronic illness. In the case of diabetes, those with existing conditions are at risk of developing further complications. The minority’s lack of insurance gives them higher odds of developing diabetic eye disease, having poor glycemic control, while among Hispanic patients with diabetes; the lack of insurance has been associated with higher rates of microvascular complications.

Activity levels may also differ from one ethnic group to another. Native Americans and Alaska Natives are less physically active compared to NHWs and Mexican American women. This in turn affects the individual’s physiological functioning, as physical activity plays an important role in development and maintenance of a healthy lifestyle. Therefore, the less physically active groups will have symptoms such as weak muscles, poor lung and cardiovascular health, and reduced strength. All these interact with the body’s immunity, leaving the patient more prone to illnesses. Furthermore, physical activity and smoking are well-recognized risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes (Morsy, & Rothstein, 2019). For the disadvantaged groups, limited access to facilities such as healthier foods also leads to increased consumption of unhealthy options, hence poor weight, cholesterol and other health management issues, resulting to their body’s inability to fight existing or new infections. Minorities commonly live in “inferior” neighborhood environments with respect to access to healthy food sources, places to exercise or crime related safety, this lack and increased psychosocial stressors related to crime or limited social cohesion have been linked to poor health outcomes.

Social classes that are often pegged to races, contribute to there being less superior treatment for the underprivileged. Ergo, even the children in this population suffer, with effects such as stress and trauma, hence poor mental, social and physical development. To exemplify this is the frequent stressful situations that African Americans are exposed to. Frightening or threatening situations are more sustained and are experienced more frequently by African American children; hence beginning in infancy, these children are more likely to have strong, frequent, or prolonged exposure to major traumatic events, conditions that induce a stress response (Morsy & Rothstein, 2019)

References

Drewes, A. M., Søfteland, E., Dimcevski, G., Farmer, A. D., Brock, C., Frøkjær, J. B., ... & Drewes, A. M. (2016). Brain changes in diabetes mellitus patients with gastrointestinal symptoms. World journal of diabetes, 7(2), 14.

Morsy, L., & Rothstein, R. (2019). Toxic Stress and Children's Outcomes: African American Children Growing up Poor Are at Greater Risk of Disrupted Physiological Functioning and Depressed Academic Achievement. Economic Policy Institute.

Sözen, T., Başaran, N. Ç., Tınazlı, M., & Özışık, L. (2018). Musculoskeletal problems in diabetes mellitus. European journal of rheumatology, 5(4), 258.