Taking A Look At Diabetes Mellitus
Type 1 diabetes occurs when the pancreas is unable to produce insulin to transport energy throughout the bloodstream. This disease is generally treated with injections, an insulin pump or an insulin pen. Type 2 diabetes occurs most frequently in older, overweight Americans, where the body stops responding to the insulin produced. These patients are treated with diet and weight management, as well as medications and insulin supplements. Both of these types fall under the blanket classification of “diabetes mellitus,” which is one of the leading causes of death in the United States.
Diabetes mellitus is a world-wide disease afflicting 171 million people as of 2000 (or 2.8% of the population), although many people remain undiagnosed. It’s estimated that the number of people affected will double by 2030. Unlike many other diseases, the scope of diabetes is most encompassing in developed countries, like the United States, Australia, Sweden, Finland and the UK, where unhealthy diets and sedentary lifestyes may be contributing factors. Over the past thirty years, the rate of type 2 diabetes has increased substantially to include 24 million diagnosed, 5.7 million undiagnosed and another 60 million overweight, sedentary and borderline diabetics. The American Diabetes Association reports that over 18% of Americans over 60 have diabetes. As a result, the Center for Disease Control has dubbed the change an “epidemic” and predicted that 1 in 3 Americans born after 2000 will develop the disease during their lifetime.
If treatments for diabetes are not sought, many complications may ensue. Up to 50% of people with the disease suffer diabetic neuropathy, which causes tingling, pain, numbness and weakness in the hands and feet. Sometimes this can lead to reduced blood flow, ulcers, gangrene and amputation. After 15 years, 2% of diabetics go blind and 10% suffer severe visual impairment as a result of damage to the retinal blood vessels. Diabetes is among the leading causes of kidney failure, causing 10 to 20% of diabetic deaths. Another 50% die from heart disease or stroke.
Despite long-term dangers of cardiovascular disease, chronic renal failure, nerve damage, Alzheimer’s and erectile dysfunction, prevention for many of the more serious complications related to diabetes mellitus is possible. Patients must remain committed to dieting, exercising, smoking cessation and blood sugar monitoring. If prescribed medication, the patient must remain on it. While these lifestyle modifications may seem exceedingly difficult, it is quite literally the difference between life and death for someone with diabetes. Even though there is no cure, an individual can live relatively well for many more years.
