Diabetes Mellitus and Gastrointestinal Surgery

Diabetes Mellitus and Gastrointestinal Surgery

Diabetes is an endocrine disorder that has made life difficult and uncomfortable for millions of Americans. According to the American Diabetes Association, 7.8% (23.6 million) of the United States population is a victim of diabetes. This has become an epidemic and the numbers are still growing daily.

The primarily affected organ is the pancreas. It lies posterior to the stomach and has exocrine and endocrine functions. The exocrine function is secretion of pancreatic juices. The endocrine function is secretion of insulin and glucagon.

Diabetes is an endocrine disorder which can be identified as insulin dependent (type 1), meaning the patient must take a regular dose of insulin to live. Or non-insulin dependent diabetes, where the patient’s body either produces too little insulin or becomes insulin resistant.

The hormone insulin, which is secreted by the beta cells of the pancreas, is responsible for maintaining glucose level in the blood, thus allowing body cells to use glucose as a main energy source. In a diabetic person the body cells do not use glucose from blood. This results in hyperglycemia (elevated blood glucose level). The predisposing factors include but are not limited to hereditary, vascular disturbance, obesity, autoimmune, viral infections, mental and physical injuries.

Clinical manifestations of diabetes are polyuria, polydipsia, and polyphagia. Some warning signs are flu-like symptoms, weight loss or gain, slow-healing sores, frequent infections, neuropathy, and red, swollen, tender gums. Signs and symptoms include: acidosis, hyponatremia, hyperkalemia, decreased, bicarbonate, muscle cramps, headaches, nausea, vomiting, nocturia, blurred vision, and pruritus. Diagnostic tests include: fasting plasma glucose, urine ketones test, urine sugar test, random plasma glucose, insulin level blood test, oral glucose tolerance test, and finger stick blood glucose test.

Since there is no cure for...