Medicine Health Paper: Diabetes as a Life Style Disease (Essay Sample)

Health Paper: Diabetes as a Life Style Disease
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Health Paper: Diabetes as a Life Style Disease
Introduction
The health issues that are caused by lifestyle have been a predicament over years in the world today. Diet and exercise carry a larger percentage of the causes of health lifestyle conditions. Eating habits should be cultured in a way that embraces a healthy living. Diabetes is one of the many health conditions that are caused by lifestyle. The different types of food taken may change the blood sugar level hence with or without diabetes, health should be given an upper hand for prevention. The amount of food taken as well as food combination also changes the body blood sugar level. This study focus on the causes of diabetes and the related community affected, the health education program and an extensive research on diabetes.
According to the research done by the (Americans Diabetes Association 2005), it was revealed that diabetes is a condition in which the body resists the normal insulin effects. It can be caused by the lifestyle factors or the generic factors. Diabetes gradually develops in a patient over time, in which the insulin becomes resistance and out of control of the body sugar level. The healthy eating and regular physical activities can help in reducing the disease. The intensive exercise for 2hours 15minutes a day can help in regulating the blood sugar level. The refined carbohydrates should also be replaced by the wholegrain carbohydrates and the increase of vegetable in the diet is also a healthy practice to maintain the blood sugar level. The patient should also undergo the gradual weight loss if overweight in order to achieve the body mass index, as it was suggested by (Diabetes Prevention Program Research Group, 2002)
Causes of Diabetes
The factors that cause diabetes varies from person to person depending on the ethnicity, the person’s genetic makeup, and the environmental factors. Type one diabetes is caused by the immune system destroying the pancreatic cells that are responsible for the secretion of insulin. This occurs when the body’s immune system tries to fight an infection in the body and in the process, attacks the insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas. This was in line with (Kuh, Shlomo 2004). The insufficient supply of insulin in the body to function ordinarily is what causes diabetes one. This process is termed as autoimmune reaction since the body tends to attack itself. There are no specific factors that are known to be causing diabetes however some aspects may trigger its development. The factors include; the unidentified components that cause an autoimmune reaction, the bacterial or viral infection and the chemical toxins in the foods. The genetic makeup may also fall under type one causes. (Hu, Mansion &Stampfer 2001).
In line with (Li, Zhang &Wang 2008), diabetes, especially the type two diabetes is the most common form of diabetes and it has got several factors that lead to its resultant together with the genetic makeup as a factor. The causes are usually multi-factorial in that several causes combined results to diabetes two, however, the most overwhelming factor is the history of the family as far as diabetes two is concerned. This includes; obesity- the weight that exceeds the body mass index is unhealthy hence may hinder the normal production of insulin in the body hence alters with the body blood sugar level. Living a sedentary lifestyle can also lead to diabetes two. Exercise is an important practice for everyone hence a necessity in fighting diabetes and other lifestyle diseases. Aging is another cause for diabetes for as the year’s increases, the normal functioning of pancreas’ insulin-producing cells are greatly altered with.
The dietary habit is the major cause diabetes two. (Hu et al 2001) stated, refined sources of carbohydrates should be avoided and use of organic vegetables and wholemeal carbohydrates implemented. Some conditions such as illness and gestation are risk factors for diabetes.
According to (Li et al 2008), the insulin resistance is a condition in which the liver, muscles and the fat cells have insulin malfunctioning. As a result of this, the body requires a certain amount of insulin in order to allow glucose penetrate into the cells. At the start of this condition, the body produces a large amount of insulin to keep up with the high demand, however, over time the body will stop producing insulin hence the glucose level rises causing diabetes two, as suggested (Kuh, Shlomo 2004). Another cause of diabetes is gestational diabetes cause which is a type of diabetes that develops during pregnancy and is caused by hormonal change, and obese when the normal calories that should be taken in a day are exceeded.
The polycystic ovary syndrome also causes gestational diabetes. The overweight of the fetus to above 9lb is also a risk factor for this type of diabetes. It is also related to ethnicity. During the late stage of pregnancy, the hormone produced by the placenta usually contributes to insulin resistance. Having family history of gestational diabetes is also a risk factor for this type of diabetes. Other causes include; gene mutation, which causes monogenic diabetes caused by the mutation of a single gene. The gene mutation may at times happen on its own while it can also be passed down the family. Gene mutation causes neonatal diabetes which occurs in infants at 6 months of life. In accordance with (Americans Diabetes Association 2005), the maturity-onset diabetes of young (MODY) is always diagnosed during adolescence and early adulthood. Other mutations are; cystic fibrosis which produces mucus to scar the pancreas hence produces less insulin.
Hemochromatosis makes the body store excess iron hence when the condition is not treated, the excess iron builds up and destroys the pancreas. Finally, some of the medicines can also cause diabetes when taken for a long period of time (Hu et al 2001).
Symptoms of Diabetes
The increased thirst and frequent urination are signs that may signify the presence of diabetes. The patient may experience increased hunger and high rate of fatigue. There may be an accompaniment of blurred vision. The numbness or tingling may be experienced in the feet and hands. The patient may experience a drastic loss of weight and have constant sores that do not heal (American Diabetes Association 2005).
How Related Community Are Affected By Diabetes
According to (American Association of Diabetes Educators, par, 2013), the most affected group is the family members of the diabetes patient and the patient. In some case study, being identified with diabetes might change someone’s life expectancy tremendously. The patient may requisite to take treatments, pay more visits to the doctor and maybe test her blood sugar level regularly. Some patients may be forced to take insulin injections. Most patients need to embrace a special and healthy diet and undertake intensive exercise more regularly. There is a need for the diabetes self-care management in order to sustain blood sugars and prevention of the further complications. This reasons give diabetes management a main concern in the health care system, as well as impacting the life quality for those who are affected (Bijlani, Vempati &Yadav 2005).
There are several complications that are associated with diabetes and have an impact on the community and society. Since diabetics have a greater rate of the heart ailment, this is in line with the (American Diabetes Association2005).
Diabetes is also linked to the kidney disease, the amputations, eye issues that may cause blindness and other teething troubles. These complications result in infirmity and demise. This may leave a direct impact on the health care system, clans, and friends. The cost of diabetes treatment is also very high hence the state have to invest much of the income in treating diabetes. This may cause a greater effect on the state’s economic stability. The family of the deceased may also experience difficulties to settle the hospital bills as well as take care or the siblings left as orphans. The drastic change of diet is also an expense to the affected family. (Hu et al 2005).
The diabetes patients may also have fear of death as they may experience the effects of rise in sugar level at any time hence it may lead to stigma. They also need a special care and attention from the community due to their conditions. The diabetes patients may be forced to live on drugs or injections which may be having side effects to their health. They are also a vulnerable group in the society hence may be infected by other diseases due to low immunity.
The Proposed Health Education Program for Diabetes Patients
There are some of the programs that are set aside specially for the diabetes patients to educate them on the healthy foods that they should be taking and different activities that they should involve themselves in. The diabetes training plays a major role in the organization and prevention of diabetes mellitus 2 which is the common type that has enslaved several people globally. This education, is likewise referred to as diabetes self-management training (DSMT) or in other words, diabetes self-management education (DSME).
It is defined as a cooperative procedure in which people living with diabetes or who are at the risk of getting diabetes are allowed to gain the various skills and knowledge which may enable them to self-manage the condition. (American Association of Diabetes Educators, par 1, 2013). The structure of the program incorporates the physical activities, diet and medication process.
The training not only benefit the patients’ health-wise but it also teach them on how to restore back their social lives after getting diagnosed with diabetes. The education can only be admist...