2.1.1- Venn Diagram and GTT vs.

Insulin Testing

1. Diabetes: A condition where the body is unable to produce enough insulin in the blood, causing
elevated levels of glucose in the blood
2. Symptoms:
Anna Garcia: Anna is an active 14-year-old girl who, other than being diagnosed with sickle cell
disease when she was a baby, has no other history of major illness. Recently, she reports
fatigue and the inability to complete her normal activities without needing to rest. She also notes
that no matter how much she drinks, she still feels thirsty. The patients mother has noticed that
Anna seems to use the bathroom more often. Anna has lost almost 10 pounds since her last
visit even though her diet and level of exercise has not changed. If anything, her activity level
has decreased due to the fatigue.
Patient A: Patient A is an overweight, 27-year-old woman who recently has noted excessive thirst
and occasional unexplained mood swings. She works as a computer programmer and sits at a desk
for 8-10 hours a day. She gets home late and only has time to exercise 1-2 times a week. When she
can exercise, she bikes or runs for 30-45 minutes. Patient A eats a lot of reheated food that is loaded
in sodium and indulges in the occasional fast food meal. She does sit down to a healthy dinner each
night with her family and claims to eat a good amount of fruits and vegetables each day. Patient A
does not think there is anyone in her family who has had diabetes. Routine urinalysis was normal.
Patient B: Patient B is a 48 year old man who has been experiencing an increase in thirst and
urination. Otherwise, he feels fine, so for months, he has avoided going to the doctor. After two
fainting spells, his wife convinced him to come in for a checkup. He does take medication for both
elevated blood pressure and high cholesterol. He takes occasional walks with his family, but does
not participate in any formalized exercise. He describes a very carbohydrate-heavy diet and claims
pasta and desserts are his two weaknesses. Patient B thinks his maternal grandmother and an uncle
on that side of the family were both diabetics. Routine urinalysis revealed ketones in the urine.
3. Glucose tolerance testing: A test to see if the body is able to metabolize
glucose
4. Test Protocol: A measured dose of glucose is administered to the stomach.
The amount of glucose in the blood and urine is measured at regular
intervals. Then use a standard measure for glucose to find out the result. The
test measures how the body handles blood sugar, thus determining if the
patient has diabetes or pre-diabetes.
5. If the patient is normal and does not have diabetes, their body will be able to
metabolize the glucose normally.
6. Type 1 diabetes does not produce insulin at all and cannot be prevented.
Type 2 diabetics produce insulin, but the body prevents the hormone from
fully doing its job. Type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed with a
healthy lifestyle, including healthy diet and exercise.
Time of Blood Glucose Level in the
Collection Blood
(minutes (milligrams/deciliter)
after drinking
glucose solution) Anna Garcia Glucose Level in the Glucose Level in the
Blood Blood
(milligrams/deciliter) (milligrams/deciliter)

Patient A Patient B

0 (Baseline Orange-200 Orange-200 Orange-200

Level)

30 green-225 Green-228 Green- 225

60 green-250 Green-225 Green- 225

90 green-250 orange-215 Green-250

120 green-230 orange-200 Green-225

Time of Blood Insulin Level in the

Collection Blood (picomoles/liter)
 Anna Garcia Insulin Level in the Blood
(picomoles/liter)

Patient B

0 (Baseline Level) 50 85

30 25 300

60 25 300

90 30 350

120 35 350

8.) GTT

Explanation Paragraph:
According to the results obtained through GTT testing, I believe Anna Garcia and Patient
B both have diabetes. GTT testing is used to determine if somebody has diabetes by giving
them a glucose solution and seeing how the body handles body sugar. If the patients body can
return the glucose levels back to normal after the solution has been administered, then they do
not have diabetes because their insulin is working normally. If the patients glucose levels do not
return back to normal, we know that they have diabetes because their insulin is not working
normally. Patient A was the only person able to bring their glucose levels back to normal after
being administered the glucose solution, meaning that she is the only one who tested negative
for diabetes. According to the test, Anna Garcia and Patient B have diabetes.

CONCLUSION QUESTIONS:
1. GTT testing is used to diagnose diabetes because it tests to see if the body can metabolize
glucose normally. When the glucose solution is administered to the patient, their glucose levels
will rise. If the patients body can bring the levels back to normal, then they do not have
diabetes. If glucose levels remain high after a certain period of time, then they have diabetes
because the insulin in their body is not working normally.
2. Insulin injections are not the course of treatment for all diabetics because type 2 diabetics have
insulin in their bodies, but do not respond well to it. Type 2 diabetics do not respond well to the
insulin in their bodies.
3. Your lifestyle choices affect your risk for type 2 diabetes. Eating healthy and exercising regularly
can prevent or delay the development of type 2 diabetes.
4. Prediabetes means that you have a high chance of getting diabetes. Changing your lifestyle to
a healthy diet and regular exercise can delay the development of diabetes.
5. Insulin metabolizes glucose and breaks it down to give us the energy we need.

DIAGNOSIS:

Anna Garcia
Anna Garcia has type 1 diabetes. Her glucose testing shows that she has diabetes because her
glucose levels in her blood did not return to normal after being administered the glucose
solution. Her insulin level testing shows that she has type 1 diabetes because her insulin levels
were very low. Type 1 diabetics do not have any insulin, and Anna Garcia did not either.
Patient A
Patient A does not have diabetes because her glucose levels returned to normal after being
administered the glucose solution. Non-diabetics are able to bring down their glucose levels
because their insulin is normal and working properly.
Patient B
Patient B is a type two diabetic. His glucose testing shows that he has diabetes because his
glucose levels in his blood did not return back to normal after being administered the glucose
solution. Diabetics are not able to bring down their glucose levels in the blood because their
insulin does not work properly. He is a type 2 diabetic because insulin level testing shows that
he still has insulin in his blood, it just does not work properly. Type 2 diabetes prevents the
insulin from working normally in the body, so Patient B has type 2 diabetes.

Type 1 Both Type 2

Not preventable The body cannot metabolize Can be prevented with

The body does not make
insulin
Lifelong disease
glucose normally healthy lifestyle
Symptoms: thirst, fatigue, The body has insulin, but it
hunger does not work properly
During glucose level testing,
both types are not able to
bring glucose levels back to
normal