Latest Health Forum Topics:

  • is oolong tea the same as wu long tea? (6 posts)
  • Do cavities always get worse even if taken care of? cuz I can't get to a dentist...? (6 posts)
  • why would I sneeze after being sick in the hospital? (3 posts)
  • what should i do? (9 posts)
  • Bates method of eye excerises ? (3 posts)
  • How old were you the first time you had intercourse? I was 16.? (16 posts)
  • Do the foods you eat effect the smell of semen? (7 posts)
  • what is a papsmear for & how is it done? (3 posts)
  • Can anyone recommend medication to combat fear of flying? (21 posts)
  • stomach problems...what could the cause be? (4 posts)
  • Teaching abstinance in schools... does it lower rates of STD's? (7 posts)
  • help me, my life is a mess? (6 posts)
  • Do you have to keep condoms in the cold? or warm? or what? (9 posts)
  • What is a tissue located in the hypodermis subcutaneous? (4 posts)
  • question about HIV/AIDS? (7 posts)
  •  

    Diabetes - A Global Epidemic

    When you hear the word epidemic, you may likely think of diseases that plague thousands of people in less developed countries far away. However, epidemics are not exclusive to such places. In fact, the world’s the bulk widespread epidemics strike many closer to home than what you may think.

    An epidemic defined is a disease that has come to influence a large portion of a given population. The exact parameters differ among experts but a wonderful estimation puts the number at around 3% of a population. If the number of people affected by the disease reaches this number, it can be considered an epidemic.

    Given this definition, people living in developed countries of the world are not exempt from a growing global epidemic – one that has seen little recognition until recently.

    Diabetes is now considered an epidemic that is affecting not just a choose number of countries but the entire globe. It joins a short, but unfortunately, growing list of diseases of which, HIV/AIDS is part of.

    Projections for the disease’s spread are alarming. The World Health Organization (WHO) pegs the number of diabetes patients to reach 240 million people worldwide by the year 2010.

    The disease comes in two forms: Type I and Type II. Both, however, are similar in that both types involve the hormone insulin in the body and its capability to way sugar in the bloodstream. Too much or too little sugar in the body has adverse effects ranging from kidney failure, eyesight loss, and in extreme cases, coma.

    Type I diabetes springs up when the immune system attacks the insulin-forming cells in the body, misled into thinking that these cells are harmful. The pancreas therefore fail to produce insulin leading to a heightened level of sugar in the body, which puts stresses the kidneys, leading to further complications.

    Most of the patients demonstrate the disease’s symptoms at around 15 years of age, although the disease may have already been contracted years before. It is because of this that experts have interchanged the term Type I diabetes with “juvenile onset diabetes”.
    However, recently, this practice has been set aside in light of the alarmingly increasing number of young people contracting Type II diabetes.

    Type II diabetes (also known as “adult onset diabetes”) is characterized by the body’s failure to way sugar in the bloodstream despite the fact that insulin is produced by the pancreas. This could be because not ample insulin is produced or that the body simply does not react to it. This form of diabetes accounts for 90 percent of the estimated 300 million cases of the disease worldwide.

    There is a monstrous correlation between Type II diabetes and obesity. Most obese individuals lead a sedentary lifestyle, while eating food high in carbohydrates, sugars and fat. These poor consuming habits coupled with the lack / absence of physical activity enhances the volume of sugar in the bloodstream. The pancreas cannot produce ample insulin to meet the demands of processing so much sugar and therefore diabetes sets in.

    If left unchecked, the complications arising from diabetes are a lot and adverse.

    - Retinopathy is the deterioration of the retina of the eye, leading to loss of sight.

    - Kidney diseases / failure sets in when the organ finally breaks down due to the excessive stress from filtering too much sugar in the blood.

    - Nervous system illnesses are experienced by around half of diabetes sufferers. Symptoms such as impaired sensation in the limbs, carpal tunnel syndrome, and even impotence have been recorded among diabetics. When sensation is impaired in the limbs, infection from injuries may progress without being noticed, leading to no other resort but amputation.

    - Diabetic coma (diabetic ketoacidosis) springs up when a patient becomes severely dehydrated and metabolism is greatly imbalanced. Since the cells in the body are starved of energy, the entire body shuts down leading to a coma.

    These complications, however, pale in comparison to the number of lives that are lost every year due to diabetes. As of now, the number of deaths associated to the disease is placed at around 4 million annually.

    But probably the greater tragedy is the fact that the adverse effect of diabetes (particularly with Type II) could have been prevented. But seen from a dissimilar point of view, that is also part of the wonderful news. By observing a healthy lifestyle of consuming and exercising right, the chances of leading a full and productive life despite the disease are very possible.

    Start with the selection of the right food and its consumption in the proper amounts. Consultation with a medical professional will inform you on what is right for your body type.

    Observe the custom of physical exercises throughout the day. A regimented workout itinerary may not be necessary. Walking and doing manual household chores may be sufficient. Again, confer with your doctor to know what is apposite for you.

    If you're diabetic, or at risk of it, or if you know someone who is, take the time to share this information and learn more about it. If the proper information and motivation is shared enough, there still may be a chance to reverse the tide of this global epidemic.

    Sponsored Ads:

    Related Articles:

    Also In This Category:

    Currently Online :

    7 member(s), 22 guest(s):
    AngryWolf, Barbwire, Cat, CaterpillarCrawler, Clatterkeys, pickapepper, SkateRForeveR, Baiduspider+, Google, MSN.com, Cobion.com, Slurp, Speedy Spider

    Search :

    No comments yet
    Categories: A Child’s Guide to Elderca Calories Dyslexia Metabolism Raising An Autistic Child Childhood Vaccines Hearing Loss Overcome Alcoholism Epilepsy Overcoming Addictions Skin Rejuvenation Stretch Marks Overcoming Addiction Looking Thin Coconut Oil Slipped Disc The Telltale Signs Staying Healthy and Living It Trichotillomania Exercise Yoga Exercise and Body Type Headaches Natural Cures Holistic Medicine Hair Transplantation Antioxidants Complementary Medicine Sleep Physical Therapy Managing Diabetes Treadmills Smoking and Alcohol Holistic Vs Conventional Green Tea Panic Attacks Cellulite Lose Fat Insomnia Congestive Heart Blemishes Sinus Infections Traditional Chinese Medicine Top Health Concerns Today Healthy Living Hearing Aids Hematology Herniated Disc Irritable Bowel Syndrome Losing Weight Medical Billing Mental Health Nursing Nursing Assistant Nursing School Obesity pH Miracle Diet Stopping Snoring Toothache & Tooth Care Wart Removal Weight Loss Allegra Alternative Medicine Alzheimer Anxiety Aqua Chi Bed Bugs Body Detox Bronchitis Cancer Cataract Low Cholesterol Cholesterol Collagen Contact Lenses Dental Assistant Dieting Disability Drugs Healthy You Herbal Cures Stop Smoking Healthy Eating Hot Sheet Hoodia Insomnia Whitening Teeth Wheelchairs Sweating Snoring Sleep Disorder Rhinoplasty Rehabilitation Panic Attacks Nutrition Microdermabrasion Menopause Liver Detox Liposuction Laser Removal