Asthma and type 2 diabetes

Ms. Brown had her first asthmatic attack at the age of 13. She was brought to the hospital with severe dyspnea (difficulty breathing), feeling of tightness around the chest wall and low oxygen saturation. Her vital capacity (the volume of air she can move in and out of lungs) was severely decreased. She was treated with beta-adrenergic agonists and corticosteroids and she fully recovered and, in two days, was released from the hospital. In the next 40 years she has had 3 asthmatic attacks that required hospitalization, but (as expected) with the treatment, each time she has fully recovered with her vital capacity and ability to exercise returning to her normal levels. She is now 63 years old, overweight and, five years ago she was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes during her visit with her family physician. She did not have any symptoms and her kidney function was within the normal limits for the first three years from the diagnosis of diabetes. However, last year’s check-up found a decrease in her kidney function and this year’s labs indicate further decline and she has started noticing some numbness on the toes of her left foot (due to diabetic neuropathy). She is filling her prescription for an additional medication to treat her diabetes.

Using your understanding of disease classification (based on the physiologic reserve) compare and contrast Ms. Brown’s asthma and type 2 diabetes and explain the treatment goals for the asthmatic attacks vs type 2 diabetes.