AGING AND DIABETES: THE PERCEPTION OF A TYPE II DIABETICS

Abstract

Aging is an organism transformation process, in which occurs a gradual decline of organs function, causing structural and functional alterations that appear in the end of the third decade of life. The Mellitus diabetes is a chronic degenerative disease, of multiple etiologies, due to metabolic alterations, that are characterized for the lack of insulin and/or its inability of prosecute correctly its function, causing in the last case chronics hyperglycemia. The Mellitus diabetes can be classified in two types, I and II. Type I, also called the insulin dependent, its caused for the lack or diminution of insulin, and the diabetes type II, non insulin dependent, presents normal or light diminished levels of insulin, but there is a resistance for the use of it, what causes a glucose load, very common in the elderly. Objective: to analyze the perception of a diabetic type II during the aging process with the diabetes pathology. Methodological trajectory: it is a qualitative research. It was asked for the studied population: "For you, what is it like aging having diabetes?" The answers will be recorded and afterwards transcribed in full; the common points of the speech will be highlighted and grouped into categories, for analysis and data discussion. Review: it was formed five different categories for the answers demonstrating that aging having diabetes is not enjoying the old age, but having restrictions due feeding, being emotionally unsettled, changes in the daily routine, and living with the disease symptoms. Final considerations: studies like these are important to understand the population's needs in order to improve their lifestyle.