polyuria,polydipsia, polyphagia and unexplained weight loss. define each of these symptoms and desire what the physiologi

Question

the symptoms for diabetes mellitus type 1 include polyuria, polydipsia, polyphagia and unexplained weight loss. define each of these symptoms and desire what the physiological cause would be for each in relation to type 1 diabetes

Answer 1

To answer this question, you need a medical dictionary and knowledge and understanding of diabetes mellitus. All of these symptoms are related to the basic pathophysiology involved in DM (diabetes mellitus), which is an elevated blood glucose secondary to decreased insulin.

 

Glucose is a necessary nutrient for normal cellular metabolism and insulin helps it get into your body cells. If the pancreas is not making enough insulin, the glucose remains in the vascular space, i.e., blood vessels. This results in the cells not getting enough glucose to carry on normal cellular processes, and dehydration as a result of water being pulled into the vascular space by osmosis. Glucose is the solute, and water is the solvent.

 

Since the glucose is not transported into the cells due to insufficient insulin, excess glucose (or sugar) is diffused into the urine, and water follows. This results in more frequent urination and dehydration. Excess urination causes the glucose concentration in the blood vessels to be even greater, pulling more water into the intravascular space,dehydrating the body at the cellular level, and basically causing a vicious cycle until it is interrupted with the administration of exogenous insulin.