P3 Unit 21 Health and Social Care

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Explain how the following factors have/may influence an individual’s diets: • Medical disorders/Health factors • Personal preference/ Dietary habits • Lifestyle • Economic • Socio-cultural factors • Social policy Health factors There is a number of health factors involved with affecting an individual’s diet these are: • Diabetes mellitus • Coeliac disease • Lactose intolerance • Irritable bowel syndrome • Food allergy Diabetes Mellitus Diabetes mellitus is a condition in which the hormone insulin is either not being produced by the pancreas, is being produced in insufficient quantities or is not being used properly by the body. There are 2 types of diabetes mellitus, type 1 diabetes mellitus is the most severe type and is also known as IDDM (insulin dependent diabetes mellitus) and type 2 diabetes mellitus is less severe and is known as NIDDM (non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus). People that have either types of diabetes mellitus have to ensure they are consistently eating at the same times every day and especially who if they are taking long-acting insulin (e.g. NPH) if a meal is skipped or delayed they are at risk for developing low blood glucose. Diabetes effects a person’s diet as the body can’t use sugar and carbohydrates as well as it should as the pancreas can’t produce enough insulin to break the sugars down to turn into a source of energy. Coeliac Disease Coeliac Disease is a condition when someone is intolerant to the protein gluten so they must avoid all foods containing wheat, rye and barley. Failure to do so results in their immune system producing antibodies which attacks the lining of their bowel causing them to have abdominal pains, constipation/diarrhoea, bloating, difficulty in gaining weight in childhood or maintaining weight in adulthood and anaemia. Because it affects the way their body can absorb

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