Diabetes Awareness and Prevention
Introduction
Diabetes is a major clinical and public health problem accounting for 5 million deaths globally. According to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), around 400 million people globally are currently estimated to have diabetes, of which 70% live in low and middle-income countries. The fact that about 50% of those with diabetes remain undiagnosed is upsetting. Although there are various diabetes awareness and educational programs across the world, a significant percentage of people are still unaware of the condition. Cognizance of various aspects of diabetes is crucial for the prevention, management, and control of the disease. However, several studies have reliably shown that awareness of diabetes in the general population is low. The IDF approximates that close to 600 million people or 5.2% of the adult population will have diabetes. The question that lingers on is how each person can contribute towards fighting diabetes? The paper will explore the causes of diabetes, its symptoms, prevention, and management.
Diabetes Awareness
The International Diabetes Federation (IDF), together with the World Health Organization (WHO), run a World Diabetes Day campaign. The major reasons behind this crusades being to educate the general public on the causes, symptoms, complications, and treatments related to diabetes. On November 14th, stakeholders from the worldwide diabetes community come together to celebrate the life of individuals with diabetes. It is also during this time that the world’s most significant diabetes awareness is raised (Da Silva, 2017). The IDF runs these campaigns with the aim that it will let people know that it’s possible to reduce complications resulting from diabetes by prevention, aggressive management of already existing diabetes, and educating people with or without diabetes together with health professionals. World Diabetes Day is a significant day as it helps the IDF remind people of how much diabetes has affected both our social and economic lives and why it’s crucial for it to be prevented.
Every year, there are more than three million deaths worldwide that result from diabetes and its related effects. Globally, approximately 194 million people have diabetes, while in the adult population, the percentage of individuals with diabetes is 5.1%. This percentage is expected to rise to 366 million by 2030 due to long life expectancies, sedentary lifestyles, and change of dietary patterns (Da Silva, 2017). With this increase in the number of people with diabetes, then the number of people with complications resulting from diabetes will also increase. A large population of people are unaware of the fact that increase blood glucose levels result in long-term damage to the body, thus bringing about the failure of various organs and tissues. Diabetes leads to both long and short term complications which, if not prevented or treated, can lead to death. Even though diabetes has no cure and affects a large population of people today, if people become well educated about it, then we will be able to make smart decisions to prevent and maintain it.
First, it’s crucial for us to know the definition of diabetes and its types so that it can increase our knowledge of the issue. According to Kaufman (2017), diabetes is referred to as the condition in which our body produces too much blood glucose levels (Kaufman, 2017). This blood sugar comes from the food that we consume daily to gain energy. We have glucose in our blood because it provides us with the energy we need. However, for diabetic patients, the amount of glucose is beyond the standard point, thus considered unhealthy.
There are various types of diabetes. First is pre-diabetes. This condition happens when an individual’s blood glucose level is above the usual point, but doctors are unable to diagnose it as diabetes. The American Diabetes Association states that in America, the population of people diagnosed with pre-diabetes is 57 million (“The Path to Understanding diabetes starts here,” n.d). Many researchers agree that if people could closely monitor pre-diabetes, then type 2 diabetes could be avoided. Second is type 1 diabetes. This mostly begins before one is twenty years old. This type of diabetes is considered genetic as it results from genetic mutations and various environmental stimuli. This causes an autoimmune attack on the pancreas; thus, the pancreas fails to produce insulin. Individuals with this type of diabetes require insulin shots or pumps every day. In America, this type of diabetes only accounts for 5% of the total population.
Third is type 2 diabetes. This type of diabetes results from both insulin resistance and dysfunctional beta cells. In this case, the pancreas produces insulin, but the body tissues cannot utilize it. For an individual with this type of diabetes, it’s important to take insulin or pills that can assist in controlling the blood insulin (Kaufman, 2017). This type of diabetes is considered a lifestyle disease as people who contract it do not have it because of their genes but because of how they live. It is mainly associated with diabetes. The largest population of individuals in America have type 2 diabetes. Lastly, gestational diabetes. This only occurs among pregnant women. After giving birth, the mother’s blood sugar level returns to normal. However, both the child and the mother are usually at a high risk of developing diabetes type II in the future. For individuals to be able to prevent the risk of having diabetes in the future, then we need to keep it under control. However, it’s never easy for one to tell if they have diabetes until it becomes severe, and one starts experiencing its complications.
Symptoms of diabetes tend to differ depending on how much an individual’s blood sugar level is elevated. Initially, some individuals, especially those with type 2 or pre-diabetes, may not experience any symptoms. Those with type 1 diabetes, on the other hand, tend to have early signs that become chronic with time (Langat, 2011). The various symptoms of both type 1 and 2 diabetes include increased thirst, chronic urination, severe hunger, weight loss, urine containing ketone bodies, fatigue, blurred vision, headache irritability and frequent infections like gums, skin and vaginal infections
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is one of the complications that arise due to diabetes. Compared to people with no diabetes, diabetic individuals are always at a higher risk of developing CVD and also stroke. Among adults, 65 percent of deaths in adults are as a result of heart disease and stroke that occurs due to diabetes. Another complication is the blindness, which occurs due to diabetic retinopathy. In comparison with the general population, individuals with diabetes are at a higher risk of losing their vision. Approximately 10% of individuals who have had diabetes for over fifteen years may develop visual impairment.
Kidney failure is also another complication that results from diabetic nephropathy. Failure of the kidney thus leads to dialysis, which requires one to get a kidney transplant. Diabetes is considered a major reason for kidney failure. It accounts for about 35-40% of end-stage renal disease in developed countries every year (Kaufman, 2017) Diabetic neuropathy also causes harm to the nerve fibers, which in turn affects the legs and the feet. A common symptom of this is foot ulcers. Diabetic individuals are always at a higher risk of losing their legs as compared to the general population. Diabetes could also result in pregnancy complications, high blood pressure, and dental diseases.
The complications that result from diabetes are frightening and life-threatening. However, one can ensure that they do not have to experience this problem by keeping diabetes under control. There are various ways through which this can be done. For diabetic individuals, they can manage this disease by ensuring they have a management plan(Helou, Dwyer, Shaha, and Zanchi, 2016). Diabetic individuals should always have snacks ready to treat a low blood glucose level. Besides, they should always keep their equipment with them. They should keep their glucose meter and supplies in places that they can reach them and in well-conditioned places.
Prevention of diabetes can be done in various ways. First, reducing the amount of sugar and refined carbohydrates that one consumes. Both sugary foods and refined carbohydrates make an individual be at a high risk of developing diabetes (Spritzler, 2017). This is because the body breaks down these carbohydrates into fine molecules that can be easily absorbed into the bloodstream. This then results in an increased blood glucose level. This rise in blood glucose stimulates the production of insulin from the pancreas (Mayo, 2019). In pre-diabetic individuals, the body cells cannot respond to insulin; therefore, the level of glucose in the blood remains high. The pancreas tries to counter this by producing more insulin. With time, this leads to the accumulation of glucose and insulin in the blood, which eventually leads to type 2 diabetes. Individuals consuming refined carbohydrates are at a higher risk of developing diabetes than those who don’t.
Second, doing regular exercises. Regular physical activities help to increase the insulin sensitivity of the cells. Therefore when an individual exercises they will only need a low amount of insulin to keep blood glucose level under control (Spritzler, 2017). Physical activities help in reducing insulin resistance and blood glucose level in overweight, obese, and pre-diabetic individuals (Mayo, 2019). These activities include aerobic exercise, high-intensity interval training, and strength training. Working out frequently is more important; therefore, one needs to choose an exercise that they can do regularly. Exercise also helps one lose weight, thus preventing the risk of type 2 diabetes.
The third is by avoiding sedentary behaviors. This is a lifestyle where one is confined to one place and does minimal physical activities. Sedentary behaviors have long been associated with diabetes (Spritzler, 2017). One could simply change this sedentary behavior by, for example, standing up from where you are sited and taking a walk for a few minutes each hour. An individual can avoid this sedentary activity by setting goals that they achieve it like taking the stairs instead of the elevator. This will, therefore, help make one more active.
The third is through eating diets with a high amount of fiber. This helps in digestion and weight management (Spritzler, 2017). Meals with high levels of fiber help in maintaining blood sugar levels. Both soluble and insoluble fibers are essential in the body. Soluble fiber and water create a gel that helps reduce the rate of food absorption, thus leading to a gradual rise in levels of blood glucose. Insoluble fiber also helps reduce the risks of diabetes.
Fourth is through minimizing the intake of processed food. Processed foods have high diabetic risks as they lack the same effects as whole foods such as nuts, vegetables, fruits, and other plant foods. Nutritious meals help reduce the risks of diabetes. Fifth, drinking lots of water. Water is considered a natural beverage (Mayo, 2019). Unlike many drinks, water has no sugar. Water helps in blood sugar control and improves insulin response in the body. Lastly, we can prevent diabetes by watching the amount of food that we consume. Overeating results in increased blood glucose levels together with the levels of insulin in the blood. Therefore if one reduces the amount of food consumed, then it will help maintain blood glucose level and also ensure that one does not overweight.
Conclusion
Diabetes is a disease that has no cure and affects a large population of people in the world today. However, if individuals become well informed, then it will be easy for us to make the right decisions to maintain and prevent diabetes. Although diabetes has no cure, individuals with diabetes can still maintain this disease by ensuring that they always carry the things they need to maintain their blood glucose level. These things include snacks and insulin shots. For those with no diabetes, we can ensure that we do not develop diabetes by living a healthy lifestyle. This can be through regular exercises, reducing the level of sugar refined carbohydrates taken, drinking lots of water, low intake of processed food, and absorption of food with high fiber content. To better our understanding of diabetes, then we must know the various types of diabetes. These are pre-diabetes, type 1 and 2 diabetes, and gestational diabetes. We should also know the various complications associated with diabetes, such as heart diseases, blindness, and kidney failure. These are all important in the prevention of diabetes.
References
Kaufman, F. R. (2017). Insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitoring. American Diabetes Association.
Da Silva, E. (2017). World Diabetes Day. BAOJ Diabet, 3, 023.
Langat, M. K. (2011). Prevention of Diabetes Mellitus complications among adults.
Mayo. (March 15th March 15th, 2019). Diabetes Prevention: 5 tips for taking control. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/type-2-diabetes/in-depth/diabetes-prevention/art-20047639
Spritzler. F. (January 29th, 2017). 13 Ways to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes. Healthline. Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/prevent-diabetes
Helou, N., Dwyer, A., Shaha, M., & Zanchi, A. (2016). Multidisciplinary management of diabetic kidney disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis. JBI database of systematic reviews and implementation reports, 14(7), 169-207.
The Path to Understanding diabetes starts here. (n.d). American Diabetes Association. Retrieved from https://www.diabetes.org/diabetes