Diabetes as a Major Medical Dilemma in the Society - Essay Example

Introduction Diabetes is a terminal illness, which has continued to affect human beings by increasing the mortality rate, especially due to the factthat it does not have any known cure. It is a disease that affects people across all age groups and which is a major cause of deaths in the US. According to the American Diabetes Association (n.d), the disease was ranked as the 7th major killer disease, with approximately 234,000 people dying from it in 2005. It is also estimated that approximately 300 million people in the whole world will have acquired the disease by year 2050 (Zimmet, 2009). This essay is a critical evaluation of Diabetes as a major medical dilemma in the society, discussing its causes as well as the effects it has on the patients. Diabetes As discussed herein, diabetes is a terminal illness which affects people across all age groups. It is estimated that approximately 1.6 million new cases, in people with 20 years and above, are reported each year. This is according to the American Diabetes Association, which continues to approximate that 7.8% of the total American population are living with the disease (American diabetes association, n.d). This is equivalent to 23.6 million people, who according to reports, only 17.9 million of the number knows that they have the disease. The rest 5.7 million do not know their status because they do not go for regular medical check ups and the symptoms are yet to show. Statistics on different age groups indicate that children under the age of 20 years have the lowest prevalence rate of approximately 1 infected child in every 600 of them. Those between the age of 20 and 60 years have a prevalence of 10.7% while those over 60 years contribute 23.1% (American diabetes association, n.d). This indicates that older people especially the elderly are the most susceptible to the epidemiology. There are two major types of diabetes i.e. type 1 and type 2. Type 1 diabetes commonly referred to as diabetes mellitus, is caused by lack of sufficient insulin in the blood as a result of malfunctioning of the pancreas (Chase, 2002). Insulin is an important hormone which enables the utilization of glucose in our blood stream in order to produce energy required by the body and the excess is stored by the liver in form of glycogen. Without insulin, it means that the glucose in the blood cannot be utilized maximally thereby raising the levels of blood sugar, a condition known as Diabetes Mellitus. For a normal person, the maximum level of blood sugar in his system should be 160 mg/dl while the lowest limit should be 80 mg/dl, which is normal for a person who has just woken up on an empty stomach (Chase, 2002). For this purpose, it is recommended that people take up the habit of having their blood sugar tested and verified on regular basis, in order to notice any abnormality as early as possible so as to be able to get advice on how to manage the condition before it becomes complicated. This type of diabetes is not much common as it is estimated that it accounts for approximately 15% of all diabetic patients. Science has enabled human beings suffering from this condition to prolong their lives as it is now possible to process insulin in its synthetic form (Hirsch, 2006). However, they have to inject themselves with it on regular basis, a process which requires strict observation of doctor’s instructions. Type 2 diabetes on the other hand is considered to be the most prevalent, accounting for approximately 90% of diabetic patients (Hirsch, 2006). Unlike the type 1 diabetes, this condition is attributed to insulin resistance, whereby the level of insulin is enough to synthesize glucose in the blood system but the process does not take form completely. This leads to excess amounts of glucose in the blood hence the condition. In a larger context, there are various factors which makes a person more susceptible to diabetes for example heredity (Schnitzer, 2002). It has been established through research and observation that diabetes can be genetically transferred from one person to the other. This implies that in a family for example where one or both parents to a child are diabetic, there is a 25% chance that the offspring, whether single or twins, will acquire the disease. About 11.6% of patients sampled testify that in their families, there is a historical background to the disease either fetching back to the fore fathers and mothers or the immediate parents (Schnitzer, 2002). As a result, pregnant mothers are constantly advised to ensure that their blood sugar is maintained at a safe limit so as to reduce the chances of the baby from acquiring the disease. Obesity is also a risk factor, which has been credited with causing approximately 55% of type 2 diabetic cases (Goldstein, 2004). According to research, people who are obese favor the production of serum resistin, which in turn inhibits the functionality of insulin. This is due to the fact that the levels of resistin produced in our bodies, is highly correlated to the amount of body fat or adipose tissue in ones body (Schnitzer, 2002). This is a major challenge to finding a way of controlling the prevalence of diabetes based on the fact that the modern population around the world has neglected their role in ensuring that they control their body weight through exercising, to ensure that excess body fat is metabolized. Instead, we have embraced technology such that all activities that we do such as travelling, cultivating, accessing buildings and offices among others, are all mechanized thereby, requiring little or no effort to conduct them. This coupled with the ever increasing consumption of snacks containing high levels of carbohydrates have led to increase in the number of obese people in the society. According to statistics, it has been established that approximately 35% of the American population is obese and worryingly, reports continue to indicate that there is a possibility that the rate would increase to 42% by the year 2050 (Schnitzer, 2002). In addition to obesity, bad habits such as smoking and overconsumption of alcohol have continued to become the norm in the modern society. It should be noted that these increases the risk of acquiring diabetes. Alcohol consumption in excess for example contributes to the inflammation of the pancreas, causing a condition known as pancreatitis. If this occurs, it means that the pancreas would not be able to secrete insulin and as earlier mentioned, lack of enough insulin is a major cause of diabetes. There are various symptoms that when observed, one can know whether he or she is infected with the disease. These are for example frequent urination (Whitaker, 2000). When one is infected with diabetes, the amount of glucose in the blood becomes excess and one way or another, something must be done to remove it from the system. To achieve this, a lot of water is extracted from the blood, with the assistance of the kidney in an effort to dilute the glucose, which is in turn disposed off as urine. Consequently, the body becomes dehydrated and despite having taken large quantities of water, the patient continues to suffer from unquenchable thirst. Water which is taken in is utilized quickly to replace the lost one and as such, it becomes a routine or cycle which can not be completed (Whitaker, 2000). It is therefore advisable for people to monitor their urination frequency so that they can detect an abnormally as early as possible, in order to get assistance before more damage to other body organs can occur. It is also important to note that this dehydration may be accompanied by unusual pains during urination. Diabetic patients may also experience general body weakness and fatigue. This is due to the fact that glucose in the blood is absorbed by cells with the assistance of insulin so as to generate energy (Dugas, 2009). If one is sick with diabetes, it means that he or she does not have enough insulin or there is insulin resistance and as such, glucose is not absorbed by the cells and this makes the body weak. The patient may also experience fainting although this is not considered to be a serious problem. Diabetes is among the chronic diseases which attract other infections in the body of the patient due to weakening of the immune system. For example, people suffering from the disease have high chances of becoming blind. This is because it causes serious damage to the retinal part of the eye causing a condition referred to Diabetic retinopathy (Zimmet, 2009). According to statistics, 80% of diabetic patients who have had the disease for ten or more years suffer from this condition (Zimmet, 2009). However, it has been established that at least 80% of these cases can be prevented but only if patients would take up the responsibility of having their vision tested on regular basis. This is especially important because retinopathy may not have any suspicious symptoms and the damage occurs slowly and unnoticeably. Other infections to the eye as a result of having diabetes also include glaucoma and cataracts. These lead to the destruction of the optical nerve and the clouding of the eye lens, which in turn result to blurred vision (Dugas, 2009). The kidney is an important organ in the body but it has been noted that people living with diabetes have a high chance of acquiring kidney infections. The most common infection in this context is the Urinary Tract Infection (Dugas, 2009). The urinary tract system is responsible for developing urine and taking out of the body and it comprises of the kidneys and the urethra. If these two components are infected, the patient experiences several symptoms such as pain when urinating, producing urine with a foul smell, urinating frequently but in small quantities, vomiting among others. However, infection to the bladder alone is said to be treatable if noticed at an early stage of development but when ignored, it continues to attack the kidney and at that point, it becomes difficult and almost impossible to treat. The kidney is mostly affected as a result of blood vessels leaking, which in turn allows proteins in the blood to be taken out together with urine. Doctors diagnose this infection by simply sampling a patient’s urine. After some period, most of these vessels collapse all together meaning that the remaining vessels would have to function under intense pressure. Consequently, they also become affected thereby leading to the collapsing of the whole kidney. Such an occurrence necessitates the process of dialysis, whereby the patient would have to depend on a machine as a supporting element to the kidney, or the kidney can be removed and replaced with another from a donor (Dugas, 2009). The nerves are also affected by diabetes and this can result to multiple problems such as erectile dysfunction, constipation, pain and lack of sensation in the body. This condition scientifically is referred to as diabetic neuropathy (Dugas, 2009). The major cause of diabetic neuropathy is due to existence of high levels of glucose in the blood and therefore, it may be necessary to advise people to do everything they can to control their blood sugar. It occurs in two forms i.e. acute and chronic whereby, in its acute form, it is possible to control it by controlling diabetes while in its chronic form, little help can be availed. A person suffering from this condition will likely experience lack of sensation in his or her legs, which is one reason why diabetic patients are advised to always wear protective gear while walking so as to protect them from injuries. Numbness on the legs means that the patient is more likely to get injuries without actually feeling any pain and reports indicate that such injuries may take a longer time than that of a normal person to heal. Coupled with poor blood circulation to the extremities such as the legs, diabetic neuropathy is a major cause for amputation in diabetic patients. In UK for example, diabetic amputation has been considered as the second most reason for loss of limbs. However, statistics in the same country estimate that approximately 70% of these people only survive for 5 more years after amputation. In the US, statistics indicate that 50% of all annual amputations are as a result of diabetic neuropathy (Hirsch, 2006). These include all forms of lower extreme organs ranging from the toes, foot, amputations below the knee and above the knee. High levels of blood sugar are a risk factor which encourages heart disease in diabetic patients (Epstein & Sowers, 2008). This is due to the fact that it leads to blockage and constriction of blood vessels thereby distorting the flow of blood. As earlier mentioned, the blood assists in the transportation of oxygen to all parts of the body and this is an important aspect which helps in repairing wounds. It therefore goes without saying that without circulation, then, injuries sustained cannot heal properly. Conclusion Diabetes is a terminal illness, which has continued to contribute to high mortality rate. In the US for example, 2005 reports indicate that approximately 240,000 lives were lost due to the disease, which is ranked 7th among the major killer diseases. There are two major types of diabetes which include type 1 and type 2 and which are mainly caused by insulin deficiency and resistance respectively. Other causes are for example through genetic inheritance, obesity and poor dieting among others. Symptoms visible in diabetic patients may include and not limited to frequent urination, body weakness, fatigue, blurred vision among others. Diabetic patients also have various infections which affect other organs of the body. These are for example retinopathy, neuropathy and Urinary tract infections. These lead to loss of major organs such as the eyes, kidneys and also legs as a result of amputation. As a result, it would be necessary to advise each and every person to take the responsibility of ensuring and observing healthy diet such as eating balanced diet, refraining from injurious activities such as smoking and excessive alcohol consumption as well as exercising frequently among others. They should also visit health centers regularly to have their blood sugar tested so as to detect diabetes in its early stages. References American Diabetes Association (n.d). Diabetes Statistics, Retrieved November 25, 2010 from Chase, P. (2002). Understanding Diabetes, Diabetes Foundation Dugas, L. (2009). Diabetes Complications. Journal of Diabetes and its Complications, 24(6), 360-432 Epstein, M., & Sowers, J. (2008). Diabetes Mellitus and Hypertension. Hypertension, 19(5), 403–418 Goldstein, B. (2004).Think like a Pancreas: A Practical Guide to Managing Diabetes with Insulin, Da Capo Press Hirsch, J. (2006). Cheating Destiny: Living With Diabetes, Americas Biggest Epidemic, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Schnitzer, J. (2002). Diabetes Causes & Cure, Schnitzer, Whitaker, J. (2000). Reversing Diabetes, Warner Books Zimmet, P. (2009). The High Prevalence of Diabetes Mellitus, Impaired Glucose Tolerance and Diabetic Retinopathy. Diabetes research, 1(13) 10-25 Read More