Diabetes : The Eight Deadliest Disease

Diabetes is a disease where the body is unable to produce or use insulin effectively. Insulin is needed for proper storage and use of carbohydrates. Without it, blood sugar levels can become too high or too low, resulting in a diabetic emergency. It affects about 7.8% of the population. The incidence of diabetes is known to increase with age. It’s the leading cause of end-stage renal disease in the US, and is the primary cause of blindness and foot and leg amputation. It is known to cause neuropathy in up to 70% of diabetic patients. Individuals with diabetes are twice as likely to develop cardiovascular disease. There are two types of diabetes: Type 1 and Type 2.

Those who are diabetic may also be in risk of blindness (diabetic retinopathy) and nerve damage (diabetic neuropathy). Diabetic neuropathy can lead to numbness in hands and feet, foot ulcers, and eventual limb amputation (World Health Organization). Taking preventive steps can help to avoid many of the complications of diabetes.

The American Diabetes Association (2004) defines diabetes as a subset of metabolic diseases associated with hyperglycemia secondary to insulin failing to release, act, or both. Complications related to chronic diabetes can be detrimental to one’s health including but not limited to: heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, amputations, blindness, and other optical diseases. Furthermore, the prevalence of diabetes is rising at an astronomical rate within the United States as well as internationally. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (2016) an estimated 29 million people suffer with diabetes and 86 million are prediabetic within the United States (US). Without major interventions from the healthcare community,

Uncontrolled diabetes can affect nearly every organ of the body; of which, heart disease and kidney failure are most commonly impacted. Known as diabetes mellitus, a collective term for various blood abnormalities, the term diabetes refers to either a scarcity of insulin in the body or the body’s inability to accept insulin. Though the symptoms of diabetes are manageable, many are unaware as to having it. According to the CDC report “2011 Diabetes Fact Sheet,” approximately 6 million people in the United States have undiagnosed diabetes. Undetected, diabetes can become deadly. In a recent World Health Organization report “Diabetes Action Now: An Initiative of the World Health Organization and the International Diabetes Federation,” it

Diabetes is a growing concern and health challenge for the American people (b). Diabetes is a condition in which the body cannot react to insulin appropriately or either cannot produce insulin efficiently (w). “Without a properly functioning insulin signaling system, blood glucose levels become elevated and other metabolic abnormalities occur, leading to the development of serious, disabling complications” (w). There are numerous forms of diabetes amongst the nation, however, there are three main forms of diabetes. Most people have heard of type one diabetes, type two diabetes, and gestational diabetes because they are common. Type two diabetes deals with a resistance to insulin, while

Diabetes is a disease that affects the body’s ability to produce or use insulin. It is a precursor to numerous other diseases, which can quickly deteriorate patient’s health if

One of the issues that may also occur when water is pulled from organ is that it may also include the eyes which can also cause blurred vision or loss of eye sight. Other symptom are Feeling very hungry or tired all the time. There’s constant hunger because there is little or no insulin which can move sugars into your organs and cells. And without the extra sugar it then leaves you with no energy. Also Losing weight without trying, and getting dark patches of skins usually the neck area which is also a sign of resistance to insulin. Having sores that heal slowly. If not caught on time or not taken care of correctly, diabetes can lead to serious problems with your blood vessels, heart, nerves, kidneys, mouth, eyes, and feet. These problems can lead to amputation the possible loss of a limb. Other more severe symptoms caused by diabetes is heart disease. With diabetes, you are more likely to have heart disease or a stroke. The worst of all symptoms is death which many people are unaware of.

Diabetes is associated with wide range of complications such as chronic renal failure, blindness, amputations, heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, and neuropathy (Alotabi, A., et al., 2016). There is no known cure for diabetes, but the disease can be controlled through health management that includes multiple perspectives of care such as medications, blood glucose monitoring, diet, nutrition, screening for long-term complications and regular physical activity (Alotabi, A., et al., 2016). Managing diabetes may be complicated and requires the knowledge and skills of both healthcare providers and the clients. Studies have shown that to prevent or delay diabetic complications due to diabetes, counseling and other lifestyle interventions are the effective therapy. Even with many policies set up for diabetes, 8.1 million Americans are undiagnosed with diabetes mellitus, and approximately 86 million Americans ages 20 and older have blood glucose levels that considerably increase their risk of developing Diabetes Mellitus in the next several years (CDC, 2015). For diabetes care to be successful there needs to be a good understanding of the disease and management by both patients and healthcare providers,

Diabetes Mellitus is a serious disease shared by 16 million Americans (PharmInfoNet1). It is a disease characterized by a failure of the pancreas to produce enough if any insulin. Insulin is the chemical in the body that turns sugar into usable energy. “While it is treatable, diabetes is still a killer. The fourth leading cause of death in America, diabetes claims an estimated 178,000 lives each year. So the treatment is aimed at holding the disease in check, reversing it where possible, and preventing complications” (Hingley 33). Due to the life threatening nature of diabetes, the necessity of controlling it is absolutely imperative. Philip Cryer, M.D., president of the American Diabetes Association and a professor at Washington

Complications of diabetes mellitus are a result of the high levels of blood glucose which can damage capillaries in the kidneys, heart, eyes, or nervous system. That’s why, if not treated, can eventually cause hypoglycemia, hypertension, heart attack, cardiovascular disease, dyslipidemia, heart disease, kidney disease, stroke, blindness, nerve damage in the hands and feet, and even amputations.

Diabetes is a major problem in our society today. Many people have heard about the disease; however, they do not know too much about its complications. Diabetes is a chronic, progressive and lifelong condition that affects the body’s ability to use the energy found in food (WebMD, 2016). Many new cases are confirmed every year and unfortunately, many go undiagnosed for years. Diabetes is a serious disease and need to be taking seriously. The disease can lead to many other health problems such as blindness, nerve damage and kidney diseases. The more the community understand and made aware of the seriousness of the disease, the better it can be control and or prevented.

Diabetes has been out for thousands of years and still no cure. researchers and scientist have been searching and searching for ways to overcome this disease but nothing yet. Everyone goals are to either improve, prevent, or cure this disease. Diabetes became very known around the seventeenth century because of a high percentage of people was found with sugar in their urine and blood. Diabetes is one of the fastest growing diseases that affects our society worldwide. The average person in this world does not know anything about this disease. The diabetes association said “In 2013 the estimate of 328 million people had diabetes throughout the world”. Society today need to be aware of what we are up against with this disease.

Diabetes mellitus (also known as diabetes) is the cause of 1.5 million human deaths in the world and is anticipated to be the 7th leading cause of death in the year 2030 (Diabetes, 2015). Diabetes is a chronic disease caused by a lack of or non-production of insulin, which is supplied by the pancreas and created from Islets of Langerhans. Insulin and glucose work as a team to enter the body’s bloodstream and get burned to create energy for the body. Therefore, if the body cannot produce an efficient amount of insulin then the level of glucose in the blood will rise. This in turn, causes high glucose levels or diabetes, and does not allow the body to get a sufficient amount of energy. According to Kathryn Jacobsen, “diabetes and its complications, like increased risk of cardiovascular death, are becoming the leading cause of premature death worldwide (Introduction to global health 148).” There are many other risk factors that are associated with diabetes and people may not always be aware of them.

Diabetes continues to be a major global health issue and prevention is the best approach towards reducing its attendant complications. There are lots of concerted efforts globally to address this chronic disease and this has led to an increased awareness and better management of the disease. No effort, no matter how small is misplaced and every effort targeted at diabetes prevention and control is well targeted, since there is an increased risk of diabetes, the older one gets (American Diabetes Association [ADA] (2015). Prevention and proper management are imperative, because, lots of complications arise from diabetes, some of which are; increased risk of heart disease, kidney failure, lower limb amputations, and adult-onset blindness and other comorbidities like; cognitive impairment, incontinence, fracture risk and cancer risk and prognosis (Healthy People 2020, 2015).

A major reason why adults go blind is because they’re diabetic, but about one third of people don’t know that they have the disease. It’s a dangerous condition that requires careful treatment on a day-to-day basis, and a cost of $174 billion annually, including $116 billion in direct medical expenses (“10 Things you Might Not Know about Diabetes”). So, how can we avoid it? There are many different causes, effects, and treatments for diabetes in the world, but which are the most common treatments with the best outcomes? Everyone should know about the causes of diabetes so more people can avoid this dilemma and have the best lifestyle routine they can for their health and longevity. Sugar can lead to some cases of diabetes, but not directly, and diabetes should be avoided because of the life changing, threatening side effects and damaging factors that result.