Essay On Diabetes

Diabetes

Growing up, my family shared some of our best memories trying out new cuisines and desserts together to the point it became tradition. Unfortunately, this had to change once we found out my mother had type 2 diabetes. Shortly after my mother found out she had diabetes, we knew our family’s dietary habits needed to change. Diabetes is a group of metabolic conditions described as the body’s inability to produce or make use of insulin (Estes, 2012). The two most common forms of diabetes are type 1 diabetes consisting of 5% to 10% and type 2 diabetes consisting 90% to 95% of all cases (Estes, 2012). Since my mother had type 2 diabetes, I was able to witness firsthand the effects this condition had on occupational performance. Occupational performance allows individuals to accomplish activities or tasks they enjoy performing (American Occupational Therapy Association [AOTA], 2008). While diabetes can affect all areas of occupation, for my mother these included instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) and work. However, with proper care, planning, and slight modifications, an individual can still participate in these valued occupations.

It is important to know the background of diabetes before understanding the impact it will have on occupational performance. In layman’s terms, diabetes is a condition in which the body is not utilizing the glucose or sugar we eat and causes the sugar to build up in the blood. The insulin, that is unable to be produced or be used properly, is a hormone created in the pancreas to regulate glucose metabolism (Estes, 2012). The regulation of insulin is crucial for the body because without it, glucose builds up in the bloodstream and causes the body to break down its own fats to produce energ...

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...h but an individual can reduce signs and symptoms with proper management (ADA, 2014). Diabetes can have an impact on all areas of occupation including IADLs and work. However, with appropriate planning, scheduling, and adjustments, an individual can still partake in typical activities he or she enjoys performing.

References

American Diabetes Association. (2014). Diabetes myths. In Diabetes basics. Retrieved from http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/myths/ American Occupational Therapy Association. (2008). Occupational therapy practice framework: Domain and process (2nd ed.). American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 62(6), 625–683.

Estes, J. (2012). Diabetes. In B. J. Atchison & D. K. Dirette (Eds.),

Conditions in occupational therapy: Effect on occupational performance (4th ed., pp. 165-178). Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.