Diabetes

Diabetes is one of the most dangerous diseases in the world today that kills millions every year. It is a disease which if not detected early can cause a lot of suffering and even threaten the life of the person with the disease. However, with proper management of the disease, one can live a long, normal and happy life while performing all the activities that one would like to except for those restricted by the doctor. I have chosen to deal with diabetes because some members of my family have been found to have it and it is possible that it is a genetic condition. I would like to help them as best as I can by learning more about the disease as well as its early symptoms so that the risk of its getting another member of my family, or me, by surprise is minimized.

According to Nordqvist, diabetes describes a group of metabolic diseases in which the person has high blood glucose, also known as blood sugar, either because insulin production in the body is inadequate or the body’s cells do not respond properly to insulin, or both occur at the same time. Furthermore, he states that people with diabetes experience frequent urination, become increasingly thirsty and hungry. Ferry states that the following are the major symptoms of diabetes: constant tiredness; unexplained weight loss; excessive thirst; excessive urination; excessive eating; poor wound healing; infections such as yeast infections of the genitals, skin infections and frequent urinary tract infections; altered mental status shown through agitation, unexplained irritability, inattention, extreme lethargy or confusion; and finally, blurred vision. If a person experiences these symptoms, he or she should call a health care professional for assistance.

There are many factors that contribute to one’s getting diabetes which include genetics, lifestyle, and the environment in which a person lives. Family history (genetics) is a factor in the development of diabetes but it alone does not determine the onset of the disease and as Chandler states some people are born with a predisposition for the disease but that environmental factors are needed to trigger the disease. Age is also a factor in determining whether one has diabetes or whether he has the potential to have it and an example of this is in the case of juvenile diabetes which is usually diagnosed during childhood or young adulthood. Obesity is a major risk factor with eighty to ninety percent of all diabetes patients being obese. A high fat diet and extra body fat can make the liver increase the production of glucose. A lack of physical activity in addition to contributing to obesity also increases the risk of developing diabetes because during exercise, the cells in the body take in seven to twenty times more glucose than it does at rest.

Stoppler declares that while genetics play an important role, an individual still has the responsibility to take very good care of their health to prevent diabetes. She insists that people should watch their weight and exercise more to ensure that the probability of getting the disease especially those with a genetic predisposition to do so, is greatly reduced. Furthermore, diet is also important because it helps with weight loss because there are some foods such as nuts which when consumed in small amounts provide benefits in blood sugar regulation. There are some tests available which can be used to see whether a person is at an increased risk of getting the disease and these should be done frequently to ensure that there is early detection of the disease. Smoking is harmful in many ways because it not only increases the risk of cancer and heart disease, but it also increases the risk of developing diabetes.

There are numerous national organizations that conduct research and provide information and physical referrals for cases of diabetes. A very good example is of this is Diabetes Australia, which is an Australian non – profit organization which works in partnership with diabetes consumer organizations, health professionals, educators, and researchers to minimize the impact of diabetes in the Australian community. According to the organization’s website, it is a national federated body that comprises of state and territory organizations which support people with diabetes. Moreover, it also co – operates with those professional and research bodies that are particularly concerned with the treatment and prevention of diabetes. The purpose of this organization is to help those people affected by or those at risk of being affected by diabetes, and to contribute in searching for a cure. It collaborates with other diabetes organizations in Australia to provide practical assistance, information, and subsidized products to the over one million Australians diagnosed with the disease.

Mendosa, S says that adjusting to the knowledge that one, or one’s family member, has diabetes is very hard on most people and it takes time and it is therefore recommended that one meets other people who have been in, or are in a similar situation. These people can offer understanding, help, and support during this time and a good way of finding this help is by joining an online support group which offer people living with diabetes a chance to meet and share their experiences with others online. Most of these support groups are run by volunteers who are regularly online and they not only provide support and information but are also involved in fundraising, campaigning to improve the local and general diabetes services, planning social events and outings, and running awareness raising activities online.

According to Mathur the major goal in treating diabetes is to minimize any elevation of blood sugar without causing abnormally low levels of blood sugar in the body and to achieve this end, diabetes is treated first by weight reduction, a diabetic diet and exercise and when these measures fail to control elevated blood sugar levels, then oral medications are used. If oral medications become insufficient, treatment with insulin is considered as the final option in treating diabetes. Adherence to a diabetic diet as well as weight reduction and exercise are important treatments for diabetes especially the latter which increase the body’s sensitivity to insulin and in the process helps control blood sugar elevations.

In conclusion, we have seen that diabetes is a disease which affects a large percentage of the human population worldwide. We have described the factors which are involved in one’s acquiring it, the symptoms which are displayed when one is affected and we have looked at the process through which it can be treated. Frequent medical checkups can help in the early detection of this disease and its treatment before it develops into something that is unmanageable. Once this is done, then it will ensure the prevention of the further advancement of the disease and with ongoing research, it is only a matter of time before a more permanent cure is found.