Sample Medical Mystery Draft

Patient: James Johns

Symptoms: Constant thirst, fatigue, frequent urination, sweet breath

Diagnosis: The constant thirst and frequent urination obviously seem to be connected. They also point to kidney issue. The presence of glucose in James’ urine and the smell of fruit on his breath indicated that there was more to the condition rather than just kidney problems. Glucose‘s presence in the bloodstream indicates that he is likely diabetic (to be confirmed with a blood test). It is more likely that James is suffering from Type 1 diabetes as opposed to Type 2 diabetes, because of his young age and athletic lifestyle. Additionally, it is obvious that he does not have gestational diabetes because he is neither pregnant nor a woman.

Connection to Homeostasis: All tissues in the human body rely upon glucose as an energy source. Glucose is obtained from chemical digestion by enzymes in saliva and the small intestine and then it is absorbed into the bloodstream by the villi in the small intestine. The hormone insulin is responsible in part for maintaining blood glucose levels. Its release by the pancreas aids the diffusion of glucose into the cell so that its energy can be released and stored or used in the cell. These actions allow the cell to have a constant supply of glucose in order to function most effectively. James’ diabetes prevents his pancreas from producing more insulin and as a result, his blood glucose levels stay very high because insulin cannot help to diffuse glucose into the cell. As a result, James and his cells lack energy.

Recommendations: James should continue to eat healthy and exercise regularly. He will also need insulin in order to balance his blood glucose levels. Daily injections of insulin will helpful for managing his diabetes. He will also need a blood glucose meter in order to keep track of his blood glucose levels and keep it under 110 mg per 100 mL of blood .

Prognosis: If James carefully monitors his blood glucose levels, maintains his insulin injections and continues his otherwise healthy lifestyle, then he should live a normal life for a long time to come. If he does not, then he may suffer from complications such as hypoglycemia, which could cause short-term problems such as a lack of energy, fainting or even a diabetic coma that could result in death. Without proper management of his condition, James is at a much higher risk of complications such as heart disease, blindness, neuropathy, amputations, and kidney disease.

Bibliography:

Eckman, A. (2010, May 10). Diabetes - symptoms, diagnosis, treatment of diabetes. Retrieved from http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/disease/diabetes/overview.html

Zieve, D., & Eltz, D. (2011, August 31). Diabetes. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002194/