Three types of Diabetes Essay

Diabetes is a condition in which a person's blood glucose levels are elevated. Diabetes is classified into three types: type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes. In type 1 diabetes, the body does not produce insulin, which is needed to convert glucose into energy (Mayo 56). Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body does not produce enough insulin or when insulin is not properly utilized. It is the most common form of diabetes in people worldwide (Mayo 58). As a result, the glucose obtained from the food we eat accumulates in our cells. Gestational diabetes is common in women who have high glucose levels during their pregnancies. Importantly, though most forms of diabetes are lifelong conditions, they are treatable and manageable (Mayo 59). People who have researched compressively on diabetes and derived beneficial reports have made treating diabetes possible. One of the new diagnostic tools for diagnosis of type 1 diabetes is the KRONUS Zinc Transporter 8 Autoantibody ELISA Assay (Rudland et al. 359).

Research performed in the KRONUS Zinc Transporter 8 Autoantibody ELISA Assay

T1D is most prevalent in children and adolescents though may develop in adults too. The condition is characterized by the immune system of the affected individual (Rudland et al. 359). That is, in most cases, diabetes type 1 is caused by the wrong action of the immune system and the beta cells in the body. The KRONUS Zinc Transporter 8 Autoantibody ELISA Assay helps in early diagnosis and treatment of T1D by detecting the presence of zinc transporter 8 antibodies (ZnT8Ab), the antibody produced only by people who have juvenile diabetes (Rudland et al. 361). The research was performed on a total of 569 blood samples, 323 of the blood samples were confirmed cases of T1D whereas the remaining 246 blood samples were affected by the other types of diabetes (Rudland et al. 361). The KRONUS Zinc Transporter 8 Autoantibody ELISA Assay consists of 96 strip wells coated with ZnT8, which are supplied in 12 strips of 8 frames and sealed in a foil bag with desiccant ready to use 10, 20, 75 and 500 U/mL calibrators (Rudland et al. 363). As previously noted, the primary aim of the experiment is to test for the presence of the zinc transporter 8 in patients. Therefore, the principle of the KRONUS Zinc Transporter 8 Autoantibody ELISA Assay is dependent on the capability of ZnT8 antibodies to act and bridge the ZnT8 coated on the plate wells and the liquid phase ZnT8-biotin (Rudland et al. 365).

Addition of streptavidin-peroxidase and chlorogenic substrate quantifies (TBM) the ZnT8-biotin bound with the reading of the final absorbance at 450 nm (Rudland et al. 363). The absorbance of the vial and the quantity of the antibody present are directly proportional. The concentrations of antibody and patient specimens are deduced from the linear graph of calibrator values.

Clinical findings of the KRONUS Zinc Transporter 8 Autoantibody ELISA Assay

From the 569 blood samples of which 323 samples were from patients who have type insulin dependent diabetes and the remainder diagnosed with the other two types of diabetes; type 2 and Gestational diabetes as well as other clinical conditions. The research obtained higher prevalence of ZnT8 antibody in patients diagnosed with type 1 diabetes than the rest (Rudland et al. 365). Roughly 65 percent of the 323 blood samples confirmed to be affected by the type 1 diabetes had the zinc transporter 8 antibodies (ZnT8Ab) in their systems (Rudland et al. 366).

From the 246 blood samples from patients diagnosed with diabetes other than the juvenile diabetes, only about two percent contained the zinc transporter 8 antibodies, which were incorrect. Therefore, the researchers deduced that the presence of the zinc transporter 8 antibodies profoundly confirms that a patient has contacted type 1 diabetes (Rudland et al. 366). Of importance, the U.S. food and drug administration insisted that testing negative in the KRONUS Zinc Transporter 8 Autoantibody ELISA Assay does not suggest, in any way that a patient does not have type 1 diabetes. FDA recommends that the ZnT8Ab test should, therefore, to assess the stage of the disease. Conversely, it is meant to monitor how a patient is responding to the treatment he/she is undergoing (Rudland et al. 366).

Significance to nursing practice

The KRONUS Zinc Transporter 8 Autoantibody ELISA Assay has many benefits to us as it has dramatically enhanced our chances in the lifelong battle with the insulin dependent diabetes. Firstly, through the test, when the zinc transporter 8 antibodies are detected in a patient’s blood, the patient immediately starts treatment for type 1 diabetes (Bhowmik et al. 1). Due to the early diagnosis, therefore, the patient can escape severe punishment from diabetes such as blindness and death. Secondly, due to confusion over whether a patient is suffering from type 1 or type 2 diabetes especially in cases where the patient is also suffering from obesity, the test enables doctors to identify the disease positively. Thus, a doctor can give proper treatment to patients (Bhowmik et al. 1). Thirdly, from the U.S. FDA recommendations, a doctor may use the test to monitor a patient’s response to the prescribed medication (Bhowmik et al. 1). Hence, when the treatment is not working, the doctor may change the treatment or test for other diseases with same symptoms as diabetes to avert danger. Finally, yet importantly, the test should be used alongside other vital clinical information for surety.

Conclusion

The KRONUS Zinc Transporter 8 Autoantibody ELISA Assay and many other comprehensive pieces of research have provided humanity with a lifeline as far as the battle with diabetes is concerned. Today, we can diagnose T1D early and, therefore, preserve the insulin-producing cells at an early stage of the disease and start the proper treatment immediately.

Works Cited

Bhowmik, B. et al. “HbA1c as a Diagnostic Tool for Diabetes and Pre-Diabetes: The Bangladesh Experience.” Diabetic Medicine 30.3 (2013): n. pag. Web.

Mayo, Paula. “An Overview of Diabetes.” Nursing Standard 30.46 (2016): 53–63. Web.

Rudland, V. L. et al. “Zinc Transporter 8 Autoantibodies: What Is Their Clinical Relevance in Gestational Diabetes?” Diabetic Medicine 32.3 (2015): 359–366. Web.