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Types And Types Of Diabetes

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Diabetes is a disease where the body is unable to create or use enough insulin to maintain a healthy blood glucose level. Insulin is a hormone that allows glucose to enter cells and be converted into energy. If diabetes is left uncontrolled, glucose and fats will remain in the blood and, over time, can damage vital organs, including the heart, kidneys, and eyes (CDC, 2011). There are several types of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes accounts for about 10% of all cases. It is usually diagnosed in children and young adults, hence it is commonly referred to as juvenile diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is a chronic condition where the body produces little or no insulin. Its causes include genetics and exposures to certain viruses. Type 2 diabetes …show more content…

Diabetes was the seventh leading cause of death in the United States in 2010 based on the 69,071 death certificates in which diabetes was listed as the underlying cause of death. In 2010, diabetes was mentioned as a cause of death in a total of 234,051 certificates (American Diabetes Association, 2014). Diabetes is prevalent in the African American community compared to non minorities. It is the fourth leading cause of death for African Americans. Over the past 30 years, the prevalence of diabetes in African Americans has increased tremendously. African Americans are 70 percent more likely than non-Hispanic white adults to have been diagnosed with diabetes by a physician. In 2008, African Americans with diabetes were 1.7 times as likely as Whites with diabetes to be hospitalized. In 2010, African Americans were 2.2 times likely as non-Hispanic Whites to die from diabetes (Houston, Martin, Williams & Hill, 2005). The cost of diabetes in African Americans is higher than their other counterparts. Total per-capita health care expenditures are lower among Hispanics ($5,930) and higher among non-Hispanic blacks ($9,540) than among non-Hispanic whites ($8,101). Non-Hispanic blacks also have 75% more emergency department visits than the population with diabetes as a whole (American Diabetes Association, 2014). The diabetes disparity among African Americans adults ages 18 and older exists

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