Much like asthma, lumbar punctures are not useful when diagnosing diabetes since diabetes isn’t
connected to brain function. Moreover, X-rays and Ultrasounds will not help medical professionals
to diagnose a patient with diabetes because diabetes affects your blood sugar levels, something
which cannot be examined through a monitor. An ECG cannot be used as a diagnosis for diabetes
however it may be useful to check for an abnormal electrocardiogram as some individuals with type
1 diabetes may have an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Ultimately, whilst a
biopsy isn’t used to diagnose diabetes itself, it can be used to diagnose diabetic nephropathy, a
kidney condition which is extremely common for diabetics to get. 23, M. (2019) Electrocardiogram
testing predicts cardiovascular risk in type 1 diabetes, Diabetes. Available at:
https://www.diabetes.co.uk/news/2017/mar/electrocardiogram-testing-predicts-cardiovascular-
risk-in-type-1-diabetes-95737221.html (Accessed: March 30, 2023). Doctors use several methods in
order to correctly diagnose individuals with diabetes. Including:
• HbA1c- This test measures your average blood sugar over the past 2-3 months. It detects the
amount of glucose (sugar) that is on the body’s haemoglobin (oxygen carrying protein). The
higher this level is, the more likely the individual has diabetes. This test is very reliable for
most individuals; however, some people may experience some limitations with this test. For
example, those who are anaemic may not have sufficient levels of haemoglobin, meaning
the test may be inaccurate or not work. Furthermore, HbA1c levels may be affected by prior
short-term illnesses or high blood sugar levels in the weeks before your test.
• Glucose Tolerance Test (GTT)- This test measures your blood glucose levels after drinking a
sugar (glucose) rich drink. A GTT may be used for those who haven’t been tested through
other tests (HbA1c) due to reasons such as low red blood cell levels.
• Fasting plasma glucose test- An FGT test measures the level of glucose in the bodies blood
after a period of fasting. After the individual fasts, their blood will be taken to test their
blood glucose levels. Blood glucose levels which are 7.0mmol/L or higher will indicate
diabetes.
In conclusion, it is essential that medical professionals fully investigate the patients concerns and try
numerous procedures in order to narrow down the issues and give the individual some closure and
support. As well as working towards making a diagnosis, doctors should be investigating the extent
of the condition to improve the accuracy of their findings and prepare for treatment. If any of these
procedures are carried out inaccurately, there is a chance that the patient is misdiagnosed.
Misdiagnosis can occur from incorrect testing, lack of research and missed signs/symptoms. Patients
who are misdiagnosed by their doctor could experience harm physically and mentally. Leaving their
condition untreated could exacerbate it and the symptoms and the failure to help and understand
the patient could lead them to mental health issues due to them being ignored/confused. It is also
just as important to listen to the patients concerns (signs, symptoms, and medical history) to gain
further information in helps to better the diagnosis and gain the individuals trust to create an
effective care plan. If by any chance an individual is experiencing limited signs/symptoms, doctors
should carry out various procedures to rule out any possible conditions which may be affecting the
individual. The process of eliminating diseases gives health professionals better understanding of the
patient’s issues and may speed up the overall diagnosis.
LAC
Examine treatment and support for service users with physiological disorders
Treatment & support available
, Asthma
Although there is no cure for asthma, there are some treatments put in place to ease the symptoms
and pain to live a relatively normal & healthy life. Inhalers are the main medication for asthma
however other treatments, such as tablets can be prescribed for severe asthma. Surgery can also be
performed on those with severe asthma (bronchial thermoplasty) to open their airways. I will also
explore the different programmes, therapies, and advice on lifestyle in Surrey for patients suffering
with asthma nearby.
Medication
Inhalers- Once diagnosed with asthma, the doctor may prescribe patients with an inhaler that
control your breathing during an attack or shortness of breath. Inhalers can relive symptoms
(Reliever inhalers) and prevent symptoms (Preventer inhalers) developing and become an asthma
attack. Combination inhalers are used for individuals with asthma that doesn’t react to reliever or
preventer inhalers. They should be used regularly, not just when attacks occur.
Tablets- Individuals with severe asthma may find that inhalers do not help them control their
asthma. Instead, they might take tablets. Leukotriene receptor antagonists (LTRAs) are the main
type of tablets prescribed for asthma. They should be taken everyday to control asthma symptoms.
Similarly, Theophylline tablets are taken everyday to reduce symptoms however they are not as
common and are only prescribed if other medications aren’t helping. Ultimately, steroid tablets
(Corticosteroids) are also used when other treatments are ineffective. These tablets can be taken
during an asthma attack to open airways or everyday as a long-term treatment to relieve symptoms.
However, a few side effects of steroid tablets include increased appetite, high blood pressure,
steroid- induced diabetes and many more.
Injections- Injections, also called biologic therapies, are given to some people to control their asthma
symptoms. Biologic therapies target specific cells in the body to reduce lung inflammation and
relieve symptoms. They are only given by asthma specialists to individuals with severe asthma.
Furthermore, you can only receive these injections if you get referred to a specialist asthma clinic.
However, there are only a few asthma clinics in surrey where this injection can potentially be done.
For example, The Runnymede Hospital in Chertsey, Surrey Downs Health and Care and Royal Surrey
NHS Foundation trust.
M3 & D2(Assess)- Using medication to control and decrease symptoms of asthma is the most
common and effective procedure used. Inhalers treat asthma successfully by clearing the airways to
help breathing. Inhalers have a quick response to an asthma attack, and they can be used by most
people with mild asthma. They can also be prescribed at any GP in Surrey, along with support for the
individual. However, they’re sometimes ineffective for people with severe asthma and can cause
side effects if not used properly e.g., oral thrush. Tablets and injections are used if someone’s
symptoms of asthma are severe, meaning they aren’t available for everyone and will be prescribed
by a specialist asthma clinic. Because of this, it may be hard to get support from service providers if
individuals need these treatments. Moreover, there are a list of long term and short-term effects for
both tablet and injection forms of medication for asthma. For example, headaches, sore throats,
severe allergic reactions, and parasitic infections may occur from injections and tablets may cause
symptoms such as high blood pressure, weight gain, sickness, and osteoporosis. Overall, I believe
that the provision for medication and the support given to individuals suffering with asthma in
Surrey is efficient depending on which medication is given. Throughout my research there is a lot of
help, information, and support for those taking Inhalers, as they are the most common form of
