Diabetes Mellitus : Disease And Diabetes

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Diabetes Mellitus
Introduction
Diabetes Mellitus, as defined by the American Diabetes Association, is “a group of metabolic diseases characterized by hyperglycemia resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both”(Diagnosis and Clarification,” 2008). There are many different types of diabetes, with the two most familiar forms being type 1, and type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes, previously referred to as “juvenile-diabetes”, only accounts for 5-10% of individuals diagnosed with diabetes. It has been discovered that serological evidence of a pathologic, autoimmune process happening in the pancreatic islets and genetic markers are both precursors for at risk individuals (“Report of,” 2003). Type 2 diabetes, the vastly more predominant form of diabetes, accounts for roughly 95 % of individuals affected by diabetes mellitus, and stems from an insulin resistance that is gradually increases with time (“Diagnosis and Clarification,” 2008). Diabetes is a serious disease and if managed incorrectly, it can be responsible for causing various health complications. These health problems include, but not limited to: cardiovascular disease, hypertension, stroke, blindness, kidney disease, and non-traumatic lower limb amputation. According to the American Diabetes Association (2014), diabetes is responsible for causing more deaths a year than breast cancer and AIDS combined. Although type 1 diabetes is a well-known form of diabetes mellitus, the remainder of this paper will focus solely on type 2 diabetes.
Pathophysiology
The pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes can be characterized primarily by the occurrence of chronic fuel surfeit in genetically and epigenetically at risk populations (Nolan, Damm, & Prentki 2011). Chronic fue...

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... to be continually answered (Nauck, et. al 2009).
Conclusion
According to the National Diabetes Statistic Report, 2014, 9.3% of the U.S. population has diabetes, with 27.8% of those individuals going undiagnosed. The severe and life-threatening complications that arise from type 2 diabetes makes it a public health concern that needs to be addressed. With obesity and genetics being determining factors for the development of type 2 diabetes, education can be seen as a much-needed intervention in the prevention of this disease. Diabetes education could potentially make at-risk individuals aware of the lifestyle, diet, and genetic risks in acquiring diabetes. This could ultimately help to make a reduction in the prevalence of type 2 diabetes, and or clarify the signs and symptoms earlier in order to decrease long term complications associated with this serious disease.

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