Essay on Diabetes and Its Impacts

Introduction

Diabetes also known as diabetes mellitus in medical circles has had an impact on humanity. The disease comes because of high sugar levels on individual’s body for a long period. Around the medical circles diabetes represent a group of metabolic diseases that destroy the normal functioning of pancreas on an individual. Individuals suffering from the condition, produce symptoms of frequent urination, increased hunger and thirst (Cunningham & Noble, 2014). If the condition is left untreated, it may result in various completions or even death.

Some of the complications related to diabetes include kidney failure, damage on the eyes, foot ulcers and even heart diseases. Over the last decades, the spread of the disease has been on the increase on the globe.The disease however during the period of our ancestors was less prevalent. The current trend on the increase of the disease on the global population relates to various factors. People in today’s world are less active than previous generations. On the other hand, there has been an increased intake of processed food, which increases the chances of the condition (Cunningham & Noble, 2014).

Influences of the disease on society

The influences of diabetes on the society relates to the loss of lives. It has an impact on the budget of nations. Further diabetes has an impact on the life of an individual. An individual may transform their lifestyles to depending on insulin injections or on drugs (Barrett, 2007). Diabetes occurs when the pancreas of an individual fails to produce insulin. The other influence of diabetes comes when the body cells fail to respond to insulin produced by the body.

In respond to the conditions of the disease one can state that diabetes condition relates to three types. The types of diabetes relate to type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes. Type 1 relates to the failure of an individual’s body to produce insulin. Type 2 diabetes comes because of one’s cell refusal to respond to insulin. Gestational diabetes occurs in pregnant women (Cunningham & Noble, 2014).

The impacts of diabetes on individuals and the society take various shapes. Diabetes condition has an emotional impact on patients, family and the society. One the other hand the condition has an impact on the economy of nations and on family budgets. In respect to the emotional influence, diabetes has an implication at increasing the anxiety levels of individuals. Individuals diagnosed with diabetes undergo various stages grief, which is shared by other family members.

On the other hand, diabetes might lead to other conditions. Such conditions might include blindness or amputations, which are stressful (Barrett, 2007). Hypoglycemia is another condition that has emotional condition on individuals. Individual with hypos experiences might influence other family members with their change in behavior. Diabetes might lead to complications such as heart attacks or problems with the kidney, nerves, eyes or teeth.

On the economic level of the society and individuals, diabetes imposes financial burden. In response to the global scale of the economic burden of diabetes, over 11% of national expenditures fund diabetes treatment. Over 80% of countries on the globe predict that with the rise in cases of diabetes, they might increase their spending by over 13%. The other influences of diabetes on the economy of countries relates to the loss of productivity (Barrett, 2007). The other loss relates to the foregone economic growth of nations.

Treatment and Prevention

Individuals with diabetes need to observe treatment. There are various treatment formulations for such individuals but the most prominent is the use of drugs and insulin injections. Diabetes might lead to other complications. The various complications include presence of wounds on individuals. With such impacts, individuals need to take care of wounds to prevent other complications (Selvin et al 2014). Individuals might utilize various strategies in prevention of diabetes. These strategies include observing healthy eating routines, reducing intake of alcohol and maintaining healthy weight levels.

The consumption of food in this generation include intake of foods with high sugar levels. Therefore, individuals need to avoid intake of sugary foods as well as snacks. Individuals need to increase their intake of foods high on fiber, low in salt and fats. In order to prevent the various impacts of diabetes on individuals, people need to transform their lifestyles. Exercise need to be part of one’s routine. The other important feature is the reduction of smoking. To maintain healthy a body, individual need to ensure that they observe regular screen checks. Such tests include blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose checks (Selvin et al 2014).

History and Ancestors

The histories of diabetes evolution have some similarities. Genes that were advantageous in the past are disadvantageous in the present environment. From research findings, it is evident that Type 1 diabetes was advantageous to man 14, 000 year ago. Type 1 diabetes was advantageous since it protected humans from very cold temperatures of the period. The influence of type 1 diabetes during the period assisted human survive cold temperatures through the prevention of insulin production. The prevention of the production of insulin ensured that blood sugar levels were high. This condition lowers the freezing point of blood thus provide protection against cold. This genetic condition is prevalent in descendants of the Scandinavian and North European populations.

Diet is another important influence of diabetes comparison to human ancestors. Humans have developed their adaptation to foods over ages. For over centuries humans have developed their adaptation to food intake. However, with the change of lifestyles there has been a shift from “Paleolithic Diet”. This shift in dieting has led to an increase in diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. Humans have an adaptation to craving for food rich in calories. Our ancestors moreover did not have abundant food this ensured that they developed their genes to store more foods. As a result, today humans consume more food levels with the increase adaptation of storage; leading to obesity and other complications. In summary, it is imperative to state that gene evolution has an influence on diabetes presence.

Study on Primates

Studies on the influence of type 2 diabetes in monkeys reveal certain similarities to humans. The study reveals various similarities in respect to the secretion of insulin. The studies have basis on providing studies on the influence of diabetes on monkey species and on the prevention measures of diabetes 2 on the primates (Bremer et al 2011). The studies further venture on the implication of change of lifestyle on diabetes onset. The other basis of the studies, venture on the molecular resistance to insulin, biochemical and physiologic influences.

From the studies, it comes out clear that diabetes risks increase spontaneously with the monkey reaching adulthood. From the studies, it is evident that diabetes has an influence on chimpanzees, baboons and on monkeys. It is imperative to note that diabetes prevalence is same in housed primates as well as those on free range (Bremer et al 2011). From the studies, it comes out that diabetes influences onsets in nonhumans during their middle age. For humans the onset of diabetes comes during their middle ages. Nonhuman primates have been important in studying the influence of diabetes. The use of such primates has been essential in the development of diagnosis for the condition.

Reference List

Cunningham, P, & Noble, H 2014. ‘Type 2 diabetes: a case study’, Nursing Standard, 29, 5, pp. 37-43.

Bremer, A, Stanhope, K, Graham, J, Cummings, B, Wang, W, Saville, B, & Havel, P 2011. ‘Fructose-Fed Rhesus Monkeys: A Nonhuman Primate Model of Insulin Resistance, Metabolic Syndrome, and Type 2 Diabetes’, CTS: Clinical & Translational Science, 4, 4, pp. 243-252.

Selvin, E, Parrinello, C, Sacks, D, & Coresh, J 2014.’Trends in Prevalence and Control of Diabetes in the United States, 1988-1994 and 1999-2010′, Annals Of Internal Medicine, 160, 8, pp. 517-526.

Barrett, TG 2007. ‘Differential diagnosis of type 1 diabetes: which genetic syndromes need to be considered?’, Pediatric Diabetes, 8, pp. 15-23.