Research Article Summaries

Link #1:

The article, “Increased Maternal Homeostasis Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) associated with older age at diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes in offspring”, is written by N.J. Leech, J. O’Sullivan, P. Avery, C. Howey, K. Burling, S. Iyer, L. Pascoe, M. Walker and T. Cheetham. From the EBSCO host database, I came across an article from Diabetic Medicine, which is a medical journal. These studies were conducted to find out if the evolution of Type 1 diabetes is affected by inherited differences in insulin response. During their investigation, there was no connection present between the age at diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes in children and the BMI standard score. The conclusion to their research was “maternal insulin resistance is associated with later onset of Type 1 diabetes.”

The Diabetic Medicine medical journal addressed this study from a sympathetic point of view. Their general target audience consisted of doctors and physicians who deal with Type 1 diabetes and possess an interest in Type 1 diabetes research, individuals already diagnosed with the disease, and people who personally know a person who is diagnosed. This was due to their Type 1 diabetic affiliations. This study points toward the need for improved maternal nutrition in ways that reduce insulin resistance. This study has its flaws because no one can predict that their child will be diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, but you can only be aware of the disease’s presence after the child is born. The only way that this study can apply in the lives of diabetes sufferers is if all young women followed better dietary choices.

T. Cheetham, et al. "Increased Maternal Homeostasis Model Assessment Of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) Associated With Older Age At Diagnosis Of Type 1 Diabetes In Offspring N. J. Leech Et Al. Phenotype And Diagnosis Of Type 1 Diabetes." Diabetic Medicine 27.12 (2010): 1450-1453. Academic Search Premier. Web. 23 Mar. 2012. <http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=9de8ee84-6697-49c2-aca5-58db5f71d1fa%40sessionmgr4&vid=2&hid=12>.

Link #2:

The article “The Impact of the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial and Humalog Insulin on Glycohemoglobin Levels and Severe Hypoglycemia in Type 1 Diabetes” was written by Chase, Peter, Tai Lockspeiser, Ben Peery, Mark Sheperd, Todd MacKenzie, James Anderson, and Satish K. Garg. These authors are affiliated with the Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes, University of Colorado Health Sciences, and Eli Lilly and Company. Since the insulin is not made in the human body, there are some hazards of low blood sugar that can lead, very rapidly, to immediate death if you use injected insulin. This study is comparing new insulin’s effect.  The conclusions show better control with the same incidence of hypoglycemia.

Although I saw that this article might contains bias because of one of the author’s affiliations with Eli Lilly and Company, which is a drug company that produces and sells insulin, I chose to use it while conducting my research to get a better rounded view of the subject. Because of the possible connection between this article and this company, I dug deeper to find any biases. After review, I could not find any biases expressed. This source is useful in adding to the body of knowledge that helps us study human response to outsourced insulin.

Chase, Peter, Tai Lockspeiser, Ben Peery, Mark Sheperd, Todd MacKenzie, James Anderson, and Satish K. Garg. "Diabetes Care." The Impact of the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial and Humalog Insulin on Glycohemoglobin Levels and Severe Hypoglycemia in Type 1 Diabetes. 2012. Web. 23 Mar. 2012. <http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/24/3/430.short>.

Link #3:

This article, “Continuous Subcutaneous Insulin Infusion In Toddlers Starting At Diagnosis Of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus. A Multicenter Analysis Of 104 Patients From 63 Centres In Germany And Austria”, was written by Berghaeuser, MA Kapellen, T. Heidtmann, B. Haberland, H. Klinkert, C. Holl and RW. This article is from the periodical Pediatric Diabetes. The study shows that it is safer and more effective to use a continuous insulin dose instead of individual shots. This maintains a healthy blood sugar level in young children when adjusted for activity. The parents of these children have to watch their children very carefully for signs of low blood sugar.

The authors’ purpose of this article is to provide educational information to promote a better understanding of Type 1 diabetes. This study from the Pediatric Diabetes medical journal shows an innovation in the delivery of insulin to the bloodstream of diabetic children. This article pertains to my topic because it details the system that is the next best action to a pancreatic transplant. This article I found has helped me provide background information so that they can have an appreciation of the complications of managing this disease.

Berghaeuser, MA Kapellen, T. Heidtmann, B. Haberland, H. Klinkert, C. Holl, RW. "Continuous Subcutaneous Insulin Infusion In Toddlers Starting At Diagnosis Of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus. A Multicenter Analysis Of 104 Patients From 63 Centres In Germany And Austria." Pediatric Diabetes 9.6 (2008): 590-595. Advanced Placement Source. Web. 25 Mar. 2012. < http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=9d9c2a82-93d9-4c41-9a65-013cf62b8f60%40sessionmgr10&vid=2&hid=12>.

Research Memo #1

Hypothesis: 

In America today, most of the students in high school are uneducated about type 1 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is important to know because, based on statistics from the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation,  in America alone, over 80 people a day are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. In my survey, I want to reveal most students in high school do not possess enough knowledge of type 1 diabetes to fully understand it. My hypothesis is that since there are not as many cases of diagnoses for type 1 diabetes versus other common diseases, the high school students do not understand the challenges that diabetics face.

Context:

In my survey of type 1 diabetes, I targeted teenagers and young adults because I wanted to prove my hypothesis. I chose these respondents because they are either about to go into high school, they are currently in high school, or they had just graduated. This group of respondents best fit my overall research question. They are not as concerned with type 1 diabetes versus someone who is older. The background information was thorough enough to assist the respondent in answering some of the questions. None of the respondents seemed confused with the survey. My questions were impartial enough to produce a variety of answers.

 Results:

Questions	Answers
Question 1: How old are you?	B –  11-20 years old
Question 2: Do you know someone with type 1 diabetes? Yes or No?	Yes – 22 No – 5
Question 3: Based on your knowledge, which age groups do you think are affected by type 1 diabetes the most?	Infants/Toddlers – 5 Childhood/teen years – 8 Young adult/middle aged – 9 Elderly - 5
Question 4: Why do you think these age group/groups are most affected?	--
Question 5: Check all that apply. Which of the following affects type 1 diabetes?	Family history – 20 Sugar intake – 19 Being overweight – 18 Other - 6
Question 6: True or false? Over 10% of Americans are affected by type 1 diabetes.	True – 25 False – 2
Question 7: True or false? Losing weight can reduce your chances of getting type 1 diabetes.	True – 21 False – 6
Question 8: On a scale of 1 to 5, with one being the least and 5 being the most, how prevalent is type 1 diabetes in America today?	2) – 3 3) – 15 4) – 6 5) – 3
Question 9: Should the government provide more funding for type 1 diabetes research versus other common diseases? Yes or no?	Yes – 24 No – 3
Question 10: Explain why you chose your answer below.	--

Data Analysis:

When reviewing my respondent's answer choices, I noticed 22 out of 27 people knew someone diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Twelve out of the twenty-two respondent’s who knew someone with type 1 diabetes either selected the right age group most associated with type 1 diabetes or were close. Of those twelve, seven answered correctly to weight loss affecting the chances of avoiding getting type 1 diabetes. Of those seven answered correctly, five agreed that the government should provide more funding for type 1 diabetes research versus other diseases. I found it interesting that, out of all my surveys, most rated diabetes third on a scale from one to five based on the level of importance. I gather from this information most teenagers and young adults who know someone who has type 1 diabetes understands more about this disease.

When asked which age groups are more affected, more people selected young adult to middle aged. The correct answers are infants and toddlers. I believe more of my respondents chose this answer because they interact more with people their own age or older. They know someone with type 1 diabetes who is 25 so they automatically associate 25 as the age that is most affected, when actually, that person could have been diagnosed at a much younger age.

Another possible explanation for the questions that my respondents missed is some of the individuals that took my survey might have gotten type 1 and type 2 diabetes mixed up. There are many similarities shared by type 1 and type 2. Type 1 diabetes is inherited and does not currently have a cure. Type 2 diabetes is obtained mostly by unhealthy eating habits and sugar and carbohydrate overdoses. Susceptibility for both of these diseases can be hereditary, but type 1 and type 2 are different and need to be dealt with differently.

Conclusion:

From my survey, I concluded that I was incorrect in my hypothesis. I was surprised with how the respondents knew some of the right answers or were at least close. This was apparent by the entirety of questions answered correctly. My questions were effective even though my hypothesis was not proven.

Follow up:

While collecting the first round of surveys, I looked over the respondent's answers and found that, so far, 100% had been all from the same age group, which was 11-20. I decided to make my research question more specific by only asking people who were within that same age group to take the remainder of my surveys. The question I will focus my efforts on is “why is type 1 diabetes so prevalent in America’s society today?” I will continue researching my topic and see where it leads.

Works Cited:

"Type 1 Diabetes (Juvenile Diabetes)." Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International. Web. 06 Mar. 2012. <http://www.jdrf.org/index.cfm?page_id=102585>.

"Diabetes Basics." Type 1. Web. 06 Mar. 2012. <http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/type-1/>.

Diabetes Survey Questions

In America today, type 1 diabetes has been steadily on the rise. My inspirations are my grandpa, David, and my niece, Kaydence. My grandfather was diagnosed when he was around 20 years of age. The doctors said he would only have a few more years. Despite this warning, he went on living his life and made it until his late-seventies. I am going to explore his life to try and see what he did right. In my blog, I want to uncover the reasons for this increase, see what is already being done, and find some other possible solutions. Please take this survey and help me discover more about this widespread disease.

1.  How old are you?

a)      1-10         b. 11-20          c. 21-40           d. 41-50           e. 50-above

2.  Do you know someone with type 1 diabetes? Yes or no?

                  Yes                  No

3.  Based on your knowledge, which age group do you think affects type 1 diabetes the most?

o   Infants/toddlers

o   Childhood/teen years

o   Young adult/middle aged

o   Elderly

4.       Why do you think these age group/groups are most affected?

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

5. Check all that apply. Which of the following affects type 1 diabetes?

o   Family history

o   Sugar intake

o   Being overweight

o   Other

6.  True or false? Over 10% of Americans are affected by type 1 diabetes.

True                 False

7.  True or false? Losing weight can reduce your chances of getting type 1 diabetes.

True                 False

8.   On a scale of 1 to 5, with one being the least and 5 being the most, how prevalent is type 1 diabetes in America today?

1                      2                      3                      4                      5

9.   Should the government provide more funding for type 1 diabetes research versus other common diseases? Yes or no?

                  Yes                  No

10. Explain why you chose your answer below.

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________