Current Diabetes Epidemic: Problem, Cause, and Solutions
Diabetes has always been a serious problem in the United States. It is a disease where blood glucose levels are above normal because the body either produces too little insulin or cannot use the insulin that it produces. Untreated, diabetes can lead to serious health consequences including blindness, kidney failure, amputations, heart disease, and death. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). There are two types of diabetes, Type 1 diabetes (juvenile onset diabetes) and Type 2 diabetes (adult onset diabetes). Both types of diabetes exhibit similar symptoms or no symptoms at all. These symptoms include excessive thirst, frequent urination, unexplained weight loss, extreme hunger, changes in vision, peripheral neuropathy, fatigue, dry skin, and an increase in infections. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). Type 1 diabetics may also experience nausea and vomiting. Type 1 diabetes accounts for 5 percent to 10 percent of all diagnosed cases and is generally diagnosed in childhood or early adolescence. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). While the causes of Type 1 diabetes are still being explored, it "is suspected to follow exposure to an 'environmental trigger,' such as an unidentifi
One of the most alarming elements of the current diabetes epidemic is that diabetes is largely preventable. Type 2 diabetes is linked to obesity and a sedentary lifestyle. Those people at risk of developing diabetes can reduce their future risk by losing a moderate amount of weight and engaging in regular physical activity. Failure to do so can have grave consequences, because the treatment for diabetes involves similar lifestyle changes. While medications can help in diabetes management, medicine alone cannot mitigate the effects of the disease. Furthermore, while scientists are researching cures for diabetes, the current medical emphasis is on managing diabetes, rather than curing it. Furthermore, obesity and diabetes are linked to an increasingly sedentary lifestyle. Like healthy food, opportunities for exercise are less available in many poor neighborhoods. For example, many children and adults do not have ready access to recreational facilities, schools are reducing opportunities for exercise, and streets are not safe for outdoor exercise. In addition, because opportunities for outdoor play and exercise have decreased, many parents do not know how to teach their children to engage in physical activity within the home. Furthermore, technological advances have led to a decrease in physical activity. People no longer engage in physically demanding occupations. In addition, between television, the internet, game systems, and cell phones, recreation has become increasingly more sedentary; children would rather engage in passive entertainment than become involved in physical play. Currently, one in six deaths in America is linked to diabetes. Furthermore, health complications from diabetes and diabetes-related diseases affect millions of Americans. Because Type 2 diabetes is effecting a younge
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Approximate Word count = 1231
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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