Diabetes: Impact on Global Health and 26 Million Americans - Essay Sample

Introduction

Diabetes has been an enormous burden to the health sector globally in the recent past, and this continues to escalate at an alarming rate. The prevalence has been so rampant that the cases of the disease rose from 108 million patients to close to 500 million patients globally, according to the World Health Organization. Diabetes is now classified among the top ten causes of deaths among adults worldwide. Close to 26milion Americans are currently living with the disease, accounting for over 10% of the adult population and over 25% of the adult population aged sixty-five years and above (Nowak-Oczkowska et al., 2018). The three main types of diabetes are type 2 diabetes mellitus, type one diabetes, and gestational diabetes mellitus. The objective of this research paper is to elaborate more on type 1 and 2 diabetes, including their causes, prevalence rates, similarities and differences, and the available treatments.

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Type 1 Diabetes

This is a chronic condition, also known as insulin-dependent diabetes, whereby the pancreas produces insufficient or no insulin at all. Insulin is essential for the body as it is required by the cells in the breakdown of glucose to provide energy for the body. Type one diabetes is attributed to several factors, which include genetics and various viruses. Although this type of diabetes is most prevalent in children and adolescents, the disease can also develop among adults (Khalil, 2017).

Despite intense research on the disease, type 1 diabetes has no cure. The treatment available focuses on managing the blood sugar level by inducing insulin into the blood, eating a healthy diet and living a healthy lifestyle, to avoid further complications. Symptoms for type 1 diabetes occur suddenly, and they may include frequent urination, increased thirst, bed-wetting in juveniles, fatigue and weakness, blurred vision, among others. Type 1 diabetes may develop complications over time (Nowak-Oczkowska et al., 2018). These complications occur on vital body organs and may include neuropathy, heart diseases, nephropathy, foot damage, and even pregnancy complications among women.

Type 2 Diabetes

Diabetes mellitus, or type 2 diabetes, is a chronic condition that affects the way in which the body utilizes blood sugar/glucose. For patients of type 2 diabetes, the body either resists insulin or does not produce enough of the hormone. This is the most common type of diabetes (Khalil, 2017). The disease has been referred to as adult-onset diabetes, but this not the case today. More and more children and adolescents are being diagnosed with the disease as a result of the rising cases of childhood obesity.

Just like type 1 diabetes, diabetes mellitus has no cure. Treatment of the disease involves the management of the disease through practices such as weight loss, regular exercises, and maintaining a healthy diet. Some patients may also require to be put under insulin therapy or diabetes medication to manage the disease. Symptoms displayed by patients with type 2 diabetes include frequent urination, increased thirst, fatigue, slow healing sores, weight loss, and blurred vision. The disease also leads to complications in extreme cases, including neuropathy, kidney damage, blindness, hearing impairment, cardiovascular diseases, sleep apnea, and Alzheimer disease, among others (Khalil, 2017). These complications can only be avoided by leading a healthy lifestyle. A healthy lifestyle choice can also prevent the disease even when the disease exists in the family.

Conclusion

Diabetes continues to be a heavy burden to the health sectors globally, despite being a preventable chronic condition. The two common types of diabetes, diabetes 1 and 2, are hard to distinguish presently, as children are also contracting diabetes mellitus due to the increase in childhood obesity. The two diseases also share several of the major symptoms, and only a medical diagnosis can distinguish the two. There is a need to encourage healthy living among the global population to curb the ever-rising cases of diabetes. Otherwise, the disease will overburden the health sector, and many people will suffer as a result of the rising cases worldwide.

References

Khalil, H. (2017). Diabetes microvascular complications—A clinical update. Diabetes & Metabolic Syndrome: Clinical Research & Reviews, 11, S133-S139. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsx.2016.12.022

Nowak-Oczkowska, A., Robak-Kontna, K., Wyrebska-Ruge, J., & Pilecki, O. (2018). Maturity Onset Diabetes of the Young in Diabetology Practice. Pediatric Endocrinology, 17(2), 89-96. https://doi.org/10.18544/ep-01.17.02.1695