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Type 2 Diabetes : A Growing Epidemic

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Lillian Soo
Constance Farley
ENGL101 MW 5:00
17 April 2017
Type 2 diabetes: A Growing Epidemic Many types of chronic diseases can have major tolls on individuals and their families. According to Merriam Webster, chronic is described as “Continuing or occurring again and again for a long time”. For many Americans chronic and acute diseases are a reality. As stated by Medicine.net, an acute disease is “Of abrupt onset, about a disease. Acute often also connotes an illness that is of short duration, rapidly progressive, and in need of urgent care.” Chronic disease is defined as “A disease that persists for a long time. A chronic disease is one lasting 3 months or more” (“Medical”). One very common chronic disease is type 2 diabetes. This …show more content…

First, extreme fatigue may occur in individuals with type 2 diabetes because the body is being tremendously deprived of sugar which is fuel for the body thus causing sleepiness and even irritability (“Symptoms”). Second, this condition can also cause increase thirst and frequent urination. According to the Mayo Clinic this occurs because “Excess sugar building up in your bloodstream causes fluid to be pulled from the tissues.”. Third, increased hunger may occur because your body is not producing enough insulin to distribute sugar throughout, the muscles and organs become depleted of energy (“Symptoms”). Fourth, the condition affects the way the body can heal and protect itself from multiple types of infections. Fifth, blurred vision is common because when the body’s blood sugar is too high it pulls fluids from the eyes causing blurred and unfocused vision. The sixth symptom that may occur is tingling, numbness, or pain can occur in the hands or feet because the body’s tiny blood vessels are being exposed to excess sugar which can lead injury leading to the sensation of tingling, numbness, or pain in the tips of the fingers or toes (“Symptoms”). Lastly, type 2 diabetes can cause certain areas of the body, mostly in folds and creases, to appear darker than others due to insulin resistance (“Symptoms”). After identifying some of the major symptoms of disease, the next important step is getting it medically diagnosed. Medical professionals have

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