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Diabetes Mellitus : A Rehabilitation Perspective

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Diabetes Mellitus: A Rehabilitation Perspective

Rehabilitation counselors work with a large variety of disabilities. With such a vast array of etiology, symptomatology, treatment options, and outcomes, it is imperative for rehabilitation counselors to understand all of the aspects of the disabilities that they work with. One such disability is diabetes mellitus. Diabetes mellitus, most commonly known as diabetes, affects nearly 30 million Americans and in 2010 more than 69,000 deaths were reported because of it. Of the nearly 30 million who have diabetes, one-third are undiagnosed. In addition, the number of deaths is likely under reported because of failure to list it as the underlying cause of death. According to the CDC, diabetes was mentioned as a cause of death for more than 230,000 people but was not listed specifically as the underlying cause (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2014). This paper will describe diabetes and will uncover the medical, psychological, social, and vocational characteristics that underlie the rehabilitation and the available accommodations and assistive devices for individuals afflicted by the disease.
Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes is an endocrine disorder characterized by hyperglycemia that can cause failure of multiple organ systems. The hyperglycemia is caused by an autoimmune tendency to destroy beta cells that secrete insulin or by insulin deficiency or resistance. Insulin is a hormone made by the pancreas that

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