Rise of Diabetes in the Field of Public Health - Essay Example

? Rise of diabetes in the field of public health Rise of diabetes in the field of public health In the present-day world,in relation to public health, the rise of diabetes cannot be disregarded. According to the research conducted by American Diabetes Association and National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (ADA/NIDDK) (2002), the number of lives claimed by the disease has taken an uphill tendency in the United States of America. In fact studies point out that if something is not done on an abrupt effect, there is a great likelihood that the drift will keep rising, and in due course a lot of lives will be lost. An alteration in the insulin production- little insulin, diabetes type2, a lot of insulin, type 1- by the body is the main driver of diabetes. On the other hand, it is also fundamental to note that a lot of individuals are also at a risk of yielding to diabetes if their precondition is not treated. It is such distressing statistics that result to diabetes being referred to a health hazard in the social order. Analysts indicate that diabetes causes a huge risk to the heart. Other researchers indicate that diabetes has been associated with stroke cases, kidney malfunctions, and dental infections amongst others. In this case, it is warranted to state that through diabetes, the human body structure is likely to succumb to a countless number of infections, the primary factor being diabetes. Visualizing the entire concept on an economic point of view, diabetes can be classified as one of the chief public health issues, reason being that, a lot of money has been dedicated to treating the infection. With billions of shillings being directed to treating diabetes, the concerned parties have been forced to stretch the taxpayers deeper so as to have collect enough funds to treat the infection. Nonetheless, it is imperative to note that actions are being put in place to deal with the contagion. Among the measures put in place is invariable testing of the glucose levels, so as to review early signs of complications in the blood levels. Other indications, for instance loss of body weight, hyperactivity amongst others have been used as early detectors of diabetes. Through these symptoms, it has been easier for the health practitioners to deal with the issue. On another view point, Narayan, et al. (2003) indicates that, by the year 2000, in every three children born, one of them will succumb to diabetes. This is to mean that the infection will continually remain a menace in public health. This is to mean that all concerned parties must come up with immediate preventive measures to these infections. The costs of the infection can be discussed both in the form of humans and economic means. The healthcare system is highly demanding with the high and rising costs of the same. With the major question being what measures should be put in place to handle diabetes, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) (2004) indicates that by the year 2003, about 6.4 % of the adults in the globe will yield in to diabetes, whereas in 2010, the numbers will have augmented by a margin of 1.2%. With the current reports, these studies cannot be proven otherwise. One would argue for an increase in these rates in the global health scene by the year 2030. With the label as the major cause of premature deaths globally, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) (2004) is of the opinion that this infection should be closely monitored if lives have to be saved. As a means of dealing with the health menace, the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial Research Group (DCCT) (1993) indicates that the concerned parties have taken up the matter with a lot of weightiness. The question of prevention for instance has been taken up with a lot of gravity all in an endeavor to come up with preventative mechanisms. This is an interpretation of the fact that this infection has become a collective responsibility of all persons in the globe. As the years progress, it is evident that more emphasis has been put on the action directed mode of prevention especially in terms of prevention, early recognition and care for the same infection. This ranges from cholesterol check in the late childhood of the child to mid-adulthood. With an early detection, it becomes easy to deal with the same infections (Diabetes Prevention Program Research Group, 2002). Conclusively, diabetes can be referred to as a chronic illness from the fact that the number of deaths being lost to the infection is increasing by the day. This argument can also be attributed to the fact that a lot of funds have been shifted to treating the infection. The need to come up with immediate means of alleviation of this infection is yet another reason that explains the seriousness of this infection. The seriousness of this infection has also called for setting of collective and all-inclusive goals that can deal with the hazard. The current synchronized and stringent policies on dealing with the infection are a comprehensible suggestion of the seriousness of the illness. The healthcare providers have, for that reason, been called upon to play a critical role in decreasing the number of diabetes cases being reported. As the key health representatives, it is their responsibility to advise the patients to uphold behaviors that will diminish their chances of yielding to the infection. They must play the advice-giving role to the patients especially on factors that play a role in contributing to pre-diabetes. They should also counsel the individuals who are likely to succumb to the disease to proper nutritional composition. Constant screening and weight check may seem minute, but adds value to the fight and reduction of the infection. Both the practitioner and patients are in this case able to set achievable targets on weight loss. Diabetes can, therefore, be referred to as major public health issue in the contemporary world of health (Narayan, et al., 2003). References American Diabetes Association and National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (ADA/NIDDK). (2002). The prevention or delay of Type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care 25:742-749. Diabetes Control and Complications Trial Research Group (DCCT). (1993). The effect of intensive treatment of diabetes on the development and progression of long term complications in insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. New England Journal of Medicine 329: 977-986. Diabetes Prevention Program Research Group. (2002). Reduction in the incidence of type 2 diabetes with lifestyle intervention or Metformin. New England Journal of Medicine, 346(6), 393-403. Narayan, et al. (2003). Lifetime risk for diabetes mellitus in the United States. Journal of the American Medical Association, 290(14), 1884-1890. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) (2004). National diabetes statistics. NIH Publication No. 04-3892. Read More