This Just Got Real

Life is amazing. Every day I am in awe. I've been up and down a lot lately. I've been fighting this battle with myself. However, when I let God take over, life is a bowl of cherries! I've been hitting the gym and I'm down 19 LBS. I always have this voice in the back of my head that says, "I'll be happy when I'm skinny." But I'm here to say that I'm happy today! I've accomplished so much with my Heavenly Father help. I have so much to be grateful for. I'm just lucky to be alive.

I ran my first 5k several weeks ago at the St. Lukes Women's Celebration. This was a HUGE accomplishment for me. I never thought I would do something like this. It was such a blast. I ran with my sisters which made it even better. It gave me so much confidence. I'm not perfect and I stumble sometimes. Sometimes it's really hard to get back up. But God always makes up the difference if I let him. Little miracles keep popping up everyday. I'm the happiest when I notice them! I'm happy for the perspective I've gained as a result of spiritual experiences. I feel like a more useful mother. I'm ready for those hard questions. Like this morning when Saylor saw me on the scale and wanted to take a turn. She stood on the scale and asked, "what does it say, Mommy?" I happily replied, "it says your healthy, baby!" That's all that really matters. That we are healthy in our minds, in our souls and in our hearts...if it is in our power to have healthy bodies than we are extremely blessed.

On October 27th I'll be running my second 5k. THE COLOR RUN! I'm so excited. It's gonna be epic. Check it out!

Diabetes Mellitus

Here is one of the first essay's I wrote for BIO 202 and recieved 100% credit:

A 25-year-old male was admitted to the medical/surgical unit with a blood glucose of 600 mg/dl. On assessment, the nurse observed his breathing was deep and rapid and his breath smelled of acetone. His face was flushed and his skin was dry. His pH was low. Describe the physiological response that is occurring.

High blood glucose levels are characteristic of diabetes mellitus. Insulin is a hypoglycemic hormone meaning it lowers the amount of glucose in the blood.  Insulin deficiency results in high levels of glucose in the blood. The pancreas possesses a cluster of cells called islet cells. Beta cells are the specific type of islets that produce insulin. Beta cells act as sensors which detect when glucose levels are high, such as after eating. An individual with type 1 diabetes lacks normal insulin producing beta cells of the pancreas. An individual with type 2 diabetes possesses beta cells, but is lacks receptors for glucose. The pancreas releases insulin into the blood which stimulates absorption of glucose into liver and other tissue cells. The liver then converts glucose into glycogen which is essentially long chains stored glucose. The absorption and conversion of glucose return blood glucose levels to a “resting” homeostatic balance. Without sufficient insulin none of this can take place. Glucose continues to build up in the blood stream. Normally, glucose is the primary source of energy fuel for the body. Without glucose being absorbed into tissues cells, proteins and fatty acids are accessed as an alternative energy source. The rise of fatty acids in the blood causes a series of negative conditions. Ketone is a shared term for fatty acid metabolites. Elevated ketones in the blood occur in extreme cases of untreated diabetes mellitus. This can cause the breath to smell of acetone. The rise of ketones also causes blood pH to decline. Urine output increases and excess ketones are expelled in urine. In an attempt to raise pH levels an effort is made to remove carbon dioxide from the blood via rapid breathing.

Application:

            As a registered nurse I encounter a patient who is experiencing increased urination and unexplained weight loss. I order a blood glucose test and a urine analysis to check her ketones levels. My patient’s blood glucose level is at 300mg/dl which indicates diabetes mellitus. I advise my patient to follow a diabetic diet and to exercise regularly. I also prescribe regular insulin injections and instruct her check her glucose levels twice daily. I inform my patient that with these proper adjustments her condition is completely manageable.

Resources:

1.)    " Diabetes Animation - YouTube ." YouTube - Broadcast Yourself. . Pearson, 19 May 2010. Web. 28 Jan. 2012. .

2.)    "Diabetes Mellitus." Medicine Net. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Jan. 2012.

3.)    Marieb, Elaine N. , and Katja Hoehn. "The Endocrine System." Human Anatomy & Physiology. 7th ed. San Francisco: Pearson, 2007. 632-634. Print.