Diabetes: Prevention and Treatment

2120 Words5 Pages

Public health emphasizes the importance of prevention and proactively taking care of one’s body. As people grow older, they must follow certain guidelines to ensure that they age healthily and successfully. One of the biggest concerns facing the aging population is chronic diseases. Chronic diseases are long term diseases that have a slow progression. Once chronic diseases pass “certain symptomatic or diagnostic thresholds,” they become a permanent aspect of an individual’s life because “medical and personal regimens can sometimes control but can rarely cure them” (Albert and Freeman 105). One chronic condition that is a cause of concern is diabetes. Diabetes is not only one of the leading causes of death in the over 65 population but also one of the most prevalent and debilitating conditions (111).

Diabetes is a chronic disease or condition that involves the hormone insulin, which helps regulate the amount of glucose in a person’s bloodstream. When cells are in need of energy the pancreas produce insulin; this mechanism allows cells to absorb glucose from the bloodstream. Diabetes occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or the body has become resistant to its own insulin; this leaves an excess amount of glucose in the bloodstream as there is no insulin present to guide it to the cells (“Diabetes”). There are two types of diabetes that affects the worldwide population: Type I and Type II. Type I is typically prevalent in children and is characterized by an insulin deficiency. Type II diabetes is adult onset and occurs when the body is resistant to the insulin it produces. Type II affects approximately 90 percent of people with diabetes around the world. Due to the similarity in symptoms between both types...

... middle of paper ...

... Disease Control and Prevention, 01 Aug. 2011. Web. 03 May 2012. .

"Diabetes." World Health Organization. World Health Organization, Aug. 2011. Web. 03 May 2012. .

"HealthEase." Division of Aging and Community Services. State of New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services. Web. 03 May 2012. .

"Medicare Diabetes Screening Project." Medicare Diabetes Screening Project. Web. 03 May 2012. .

Span, Paula. "For Elderly Diabetics, Questions About Aggressive Care." New York Times. New York Times, 11 Apr. 2011. Web. 03 May 2012. .

Show More
Related

  • The Pathophysiology of Diabetes Mellitus.

    1147 Words  | 3 Pages

    The pathophysiology of diabetes mellitus in is related to the insulin hormone. Insulin is secreted by cells in the pancreas and is responsible for regulating the level of glucose in the bloodstream. It also aids the body in breaking down the glucose to be used as energy. When someone suffers from diabetes, however, the body does not break down the glucose in the blood as a result of abnormal insulin metabolism. When there are elevated levels of glucose in the blood, it is known as hyperglycemia. If the levels continue to remain high over an extended period of time, damage can be done to the kidneys, cardiovascular systems; you can get eye disorders, or even cause nerve damage. When the glucose levels are low in one’s body, it is called hypoglycemia. A person begins to feel very jittery, and possibly dizzy. If that occurs over a period of time, the person can possibly faint. Diabetes mellitus occurs in three different forms - type 1, type 2, and gestational.

    Read More

  • Sexuality in the Elderly

    855 Words  | 2 Pages

    Medcohealth. Women and Aging: Our lives due change (2002). Retrieved November 18, 2002 from the World Wide Web: http://www.medcohealth.com

    Read More

  • Transitioning from Nursing Student to New Graduate Nurse (NGN)

    1266 Words  | 3 Pages

    Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing, 44(9), 406. doi:10.3928/00220124-20130617-38. Torpy, J. M. (2011). The 'Standard' Diabetes. Jama, 305(24), 2592 pp.

    Read More

  • Diabetes and Native Americans: A Cultural Epidemic

    989 Words  | 2 Pages

    Diabetes is a disease in which a person’s body in unable to make or utilize insulin properly which affects blood sugar levels. Insulin is a hormone that is produced in the pancreas, which helps to regulate glucose (sugar) levels, break down carbohydrates and fats, and is essential to produce the body’s energy. The CDC (2013) offers reliable insight, summarized here, into the different types of diabetes, some causes, and health complications that may arise from the disease.

    Read More

  • Native Americans and Diabetes

    2358 Words  | 5 Pages

    Diabetes is a disease that affects the body’s ability to produce or respond to insulin, a hormone that allows blood glucose (blood sugar) to enter the cells of the body and be used for energy. Diabetes falls into two main categories: type 1, or juvenile diabetes, which usually occurs during childhood or adolescence, and type 2, or adult-onset diabetes, the most common form of the disease, usually occurring after age 40. Type 1 results from the body’s immune system attacking the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. The onset of juvenile diabetes is much higher in the winter than in the summer. This association has been repeatedly confirmed in diabetes research. Type 2 is characterized by “insulin resistance,” or an inability of the cells to use insulin, sometimes accompanied by a deficiency in insulin production. There is also sometimes a third type of diabetes considered. It is gestational diabetes, which occurs when the body is not able to properly use insulin during pregnancy. Type 2 diabetes encompasses nine out of 10 diabetic cases. Diabetes is the fifth-deadliest disease in the United States, and it has no cure. The total annual economic cost of diabetes in 2002 was estimated to be $132 billion, or one out of every 10 health care dollars spent in the United States. Diabetes risk factors can fall into three major categories: family history, obesity, and impaired glucose tolerance. Minority groups and elderly are at the greatest risk of developing diabetes.

    Read More

  • Canadian Primary Health Care

    3417 Words  | 7 Pages

    Health Services Research Foundation. (n.d.). CHSRF - Romanow Commission . Splash . Retrieved February 1, 2011, from http://www.chsrf.ca/PublicationsAndResources/PastSeries/RomanowCommission.aspx

    Read More

  • Diabetes Essay

    888 Words  | 2 Pages

    Glucose is a sugar that plays a big part in a human’s health and well-being. This sugar is a major source of energy for the body’s brain and cells. The Cells that receive energy from glucose help in the building of the body’s muscle and tissue. Although glucose may be important to the body too much of this sugar can cause a chronic condition called Diabetes. Diabetes, also known as Diabetes mellitus, is a chronic condition that is caused by too much sugar in the blood. This condition can affect all age groups. In fact, in 2010 a survey was taken by the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse, on the number of newly diagnosed diabetes. Out of 1,907,000 people: 24.38% were ages 20-44, 55.17% were ages 45-64, and 20.45% were ages 65 and greater. Diabetes is a very serious condition, and it can be deadly if left untreated. This paper will help better educate the reader on the signs and symptoms, the testing process, and the management of diabetes.

    Read More

  • Health Care Options for the Elderly

    1199 Words  | 3 Pages

    When working with the older adult population we have many health care challenges. One health concern for older adults is diabetes type 2. Diabetes can be defines as a raised glucose level and symptoms on two separate occasions. Diabetes type 2 is a metabolic disorder where a person shows some, but not complete, lack of insulin verses type 1 in which a person has a complete lack of insulin. The prevalence of diabetes among Americans has steadily increased over the years. “In 2010, 25.6 million Americans over 20 years old were estimated to be living with diabetes, with an additional 79 million estimated to have prediabetes” (Robertson, 2012, p. 225). Without proper education about the disease and how to manage it, the prevalence among our older population is likely to increase. “The epidemic of type 2 diabetes is clearly linked to increasing rates of overweight and obesity in the U.S. population, but projections by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggest that even if diabetes incidence rates level off, the prevalence of diabetes will double in the next 20 years, in part due to the aging of the population” (Kirkman et al., 2012, p. 2342).

    Read More

  • Essay About Diabetes

    643 Words  | 2 Pages

    21 February 2014 Phuong Nguyen 2510 Woodhull Ave Bronx, NY 10469. The Honorable Bill de Blasio, Mayor of New York City City Hall, New York, NY 10007. Dear Mayor Blasio, As society develops, people do not stop seeking access to healthcare services in order to ensure a better quality of life. With largely diverse populations, the Bronx has emerged to be a widely populated community in New York City. As a result, the challenges present in the community are overpopulation, polluted environment, excessive fast food chains, and noise pollution due to various transportations that are a root cause of many healthcare problems.

    Read More

  • Diabetes As A National Health Priority

    2286 Words  | 5 Pages

    ...revention through awareness and education is achieved via the work of government initiatives such as the National Diabetes Services Scheme and health campaigns including Measure Up. The NDSS also works to improve the self-management of diabetes. Physiotherapists also have a role in the management of diabetes through implementing exercise programs. An evidence-based approach was used to create the proposed exercise program that aimed to manage the high blood glucose levels associated with insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes (Sigal et al., 2007). It utilized both aerobic and resistance training in accordance with current knowledge of the most effective dosages for the population group. Physiotherapists must work alongside other healthcare professionals such as dietitians and general practitioners to provide optimal support and management for patients with diabetes.

    Read More

  • Mental Health Stigma and the Healthcare System

    2062 Words  | 5 Pages

    U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Myths and Facts. n.d. Web. 16 November 2013.

    Read More

  • Challenges of Health Care and the Aging Population

    1317 Words  | 3 Pages

    Kick, Ella. "Overview: Health Care and the Aging Population: What Are Today's Challenges?" The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing. N.p., n.d. Web.

    Read More

  • The Health Promotion Of Diabetes Mellitus

    778 Words  | 2 Pages

    Since Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus is one of the most common health challenges world-wide, I am going to further incorporate the topic in my paper. Through academic research and resources, in my first paragraph I will be providing the health promotion definition along with expressing the importance for patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. My second paragraph will display the pathophysiology to help comprehend how this health challenge is present in the body. Health promotion interventions will also be incorporated with ideas and specific information to aid individuals in promoting health and preventing development of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

    Read More

  • Diabetes: Diabetic Emergencies

    1069 Words  | 3 Pages

    2. Artex Medical, Inc. America’s Choice for Diabetic Needs Published by the National Diabetes Education Program in 2013 Read on 03/24/2014 (pamphlet)

    Read More

  • Diabetes and Treatment

    536 Words  | 2 Pages

    "Symptoms - The American Diabetes Association." American Diabetes Association, 2014. Web. 3 Mar 2014. .

    Read More

More about Diabetes: Prevention and Treatment

Open Document