Midnight in Paris: Diabetes (Diabetes mellitus)

What is Diabetes or in Medical terms Diabetes Mellitus? 

It is a metabolic disorder where the body cannot properly store and use energy that is found in food. This condition is most commonly known or characterized by high blood glucose levels. The most common signs of diabetes is increased thirst, urination, fatigue, weight and muscle loss, blurred vision, and a slow healing process of cuts or wounds. This lifelong condition, if left untreated will continue to progress worse as time passes. (A)

Diabetes Mellitus' high blood glucose (blood sugar)levels. This occurs because the body's cells (aka. receptors for insulin) are not responding to insulin, insulin is not functioning properly, or it could be the cause of both. This is why individuals with increasingly thirst (polydipsia) and hunger (polyphagia). Many people are not aware of this but there are actually three types of diabetes; Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 diabetes, Gestational diabetes.  (A)

Type 1 diabetes used to be known as insulin-dependent diabetes (IDDM), or juvenile-onset diabetes as it often begins in childhood. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition where the immune system wrongly identifies and subsequently attacks the pancreatic cells that produce insulin, leading to little or no insulin production.(A)

Type 1 Diabetes is when the body itself cannot produce insulin. Other names for type 1 diabetes include the following; insulin-dependent diabetes, juvenile diabetes, or early-onset diabetes. Those who get type 1 diabetes are those who develop the life long condition before turning 40 (typically, in early adulthood or teen years). (A)

Type 2 Diabetes is far more common than type 1 diabetes. Only 10% of patients who have diabetes are diagnosed with type 1. These patients need to take insulin injections for the rest of their lives as well as making sure that their blood glucose levels are maintained at a certain level by carrying out regular blood tests and following a special diet. (A)

Type 2 diabetes used to be known as non-insulin dependent diabetes (NIDDM) and adult onset diabetes, but it is increasingly common in children, largely due to children being more likely to be obese or overweight. In this condition, the body usually still produces some insulin, but this is not enough to meet demand and the body's cells do not properly respond to the insulin. The latter effect is called insulin resistance, where persistently elevated blood glucose has caused cells to be overexposed to insulin, making them less responsive or unresponsive to the hormonal messenger.(A)

When one's body does not or can not produce enough insulin to properly function or when the cells inside the body (cell receptors) do not react to insulin (aka: insulin resistance). A shocking 90% of patients diagnosed with diabetes worldwide are type 2 diabetes. Symptoms of type 2 include losing weight, following a healthy diet, exercise, and monitoring their blood glucose levels. Type 2 has no choice but to continue to get progressively worsen as these individuals age to the point where they have to take insulin tablets. (A)

This is why it is so detrimental for people to try to maintain a healthy body weight, because individuals who are considered medically overweight or obese have the greatest risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Having this extra fat and weight on the human body causes the body to release chemicals to destabilize the body's cardiovascular and metabolic systems. Those who have visceral/central body fat, meaning that the majority of the weight is located in the abdomen or commonly known as 'belly fat' are at an even higher risk. (A)

The combination of being overweight/obese, physically inactive, and eating junk food contribute to the development of type 2 diabetes. As we age, the risks of developing type 2 diabetes increases as well. As of today, no one really knows why but as we age we tend to put on weight and become less physically active. Those close to developing type 2 diabetes are individuals who are Middle Eastern, African, or South Asian. Researchers from University of Edinburgh, Scotland say that low testosterone levels in men is directly linked to increased insulin resistance. (A)

Your body's ability to consume glucose for fuel is dependent if an individual is developing, has, or has had diabetes. Whenever people eat bread, cereals, pasta, rice, potatoes, fruits, and some vegetables they are consuming glucose which is a form of cholesterol. Glucose is synthesized in the liver and is carried in the blood to the rest of the body to fuel cellular processes. In order to use glucose as fuel for the body to function, insulin is needed to get the glucose into the cells. Since insulin is a hormone, chemical messenger, made by specialized cells in the pancreas. (A)

Insulin regulates blood glucose by stimulating the removal of glucose from the bloodstream and it being taken into the muscle, liver, and fat cells where it can be stored for energy. When the body does not make enough insulin or cells do not respond to insulin, blood glucose levels elevate as cells lose their energy and are deprived of their 'fuel'. When these levels get too high (symptom named,' hyper-glycemia') causes damage to tiny blood vessels in the eyes, kidneys, heart, as well as the nervous system. Subsequently, such damage to these vital organs or organ systems are associated with diseases such as cardiovascular, kidney, loss of vision, and neurological conditions. (A)

Gestational diabetes occurs in pregnancy and typically resolves after childbirth. People who have experienced gestational diabetes do, however, have an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes after pregnancy.(A) During pregnancy, usually around the 24th week, many women develop gestational diabetes. Being diagnosed with gestational diabetes does not mean that you had diabetes before you conceived or that you will have diabetes after birth. (C)

Diabetes is by far a greater concern on women compared to men because of the potential negative affects it can cause women who become or are pregnant and their future baby. Diabetes can cause many difficulties during pregnancy including miscarriage or birth defects. Women who have diabetes are also more likely to have a heart attack compared to those who do not have diabetes. (C)

Diabetes can be especially hard on women. The burden of diabetes on women is unique because the disease can affect both mothers and their unborn children.
Diabetes can cause difficulties during pregnancy such as a miscarriage or a baby born with birth defects. Women with diabetes are also more likely to have a heart attack, and at a younger age, than women without diabetes.
- See more at: http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/treatment-and-care/women/#sthash.fjEVkiqs.dpuf

During pregnancy – usually around the 24th week – many women develop gestational diabetes. A diagnosis of gestational diabetes doesn't mean that you had diabetes before you conceived, or that you will have diabetes after giving birth. But it's important to follow your doctor's advice regarding blood glucose (blood sugar) levels while you're planning your pregnancy, so you and your baby both remain healthy. - See more at: http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/gestational/#sthash.FEk3lrH3.dpuf

During pregnancy – usually around the 24th week – many women develop gestational diabetes. A diagnosis of gestational diabetes doesn't mean that you had diabetes before you conceived, or that you will have diabetes after giving birth. But it's important to follow your doctor's advice regarding blood glucose (blood sugar) levels while you're planning your pregnancy, so you and your baby both remain healthy. - See more at: http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/gestational/#sthash.FEk3lrH3.dpuf

During pregnancy – usually around the 24th week – many women develop gestational diabetes. A diagnosis of gestational diabetes doesn't mean that you had diabetes before you conceived, or that you will have diabetes after giving birth. But it's important to follow your doctor's advice regarding blood glucose (blood sugar) levels while you're planning your pregnancy, so you and your baby both remain healthy. - See more at: http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/gestational/#sthash.FEk3lrH3.dpuf

Diabetes can lead to heart attack, stroke, blindness, kidney failure and lower limb amputation. Prevention is key. WHO reported that in 2012, 1.5 million people worldwide died from diabetes including an additional 2.2 million who died because of dangerously high blood glucose levels. This is a precursor of diabetes, increases the risks of heart disease and many others. Before the age of 70, about 43% die prematurely. It is very important for countries everywhere to engage in breastfeeding their newborns, promote healthy diets, and become more physically active. (B)

There also needs to be more treatments available for diabetes including essential drugs. According to Krug, from the Gaurdian, has stated that treatment are available in only one in three of the worlds poorest countries. This is shocking truth especially when one considers the fact that it has been 100 years since the hormone insulin has been discovered. Simply by improving the access to insulin and other medicines to help treat diabetes is the difference between life or death for many people. (B)

 

There is also a huge misconception that the more expensive the drugs, the better they are or will work. But there are cheaper forms of insulin which are just as effective which need to be widely available worldwide. The government is essential in this process as they are the ones who chose which drugs to buy, what is available to the general public, as well as their opinion of what they think they should buy. (B)

Links:
(A)http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/7504.php
(B) http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2016/apr/06/who-world-health-organisation-healthier-diets-surge-in-diabetes
(C)http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/treatment-and-care/women/

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