Introduction
Diabetes is one of the major metabolic diseases, which affects a large portion of the population. It is a severe systemic heterogeneous disease in which absolute or relative insulin deficiency develops. Diabetes is an endocrine disease characterized by a syndrome of chronic hyperglycemia, which is a consequence of insufficient production or action of insulin, which leads to the disruption of all types of metabolism. Insulin deficiency initially causes a violation of carbohydrate metabolism, which ultimately leads to damage to all functional systems of the body. There are two main forms of the disorder, such as autoimmune type 1 and insulin-resistant type 2.
Causes
The problem can be caused by random autoimmune errors or viral infections, as well as genetics. The main causes are diet and lifestyle, where a person systematically overconsumes sugary or glucose-containing foods. Type 2 diabetes tends to occur in older people, and the incidence rates increase with age. In addition, there is an increasing number (1) of type 2 diabetes patients who suffer from this form of diabetes during adolescence. Most of these cases are due to poor diet, excess weight, and lack of physical activity. Along with the provided facts, the genetic component plays a significant role in the development of diabetes. At the same time, while there are no other risk factors, the most significant risk factor is obesity. There is a direct link between obesity and type 2 diabetes, and this is equally true for both children and adults.
Problems
Diabetes causes a wide range of health problems, which can also lead to or be risk factors for cancers. One of the most immediate and direct consequences of both types of diabetes is elevated blood glucose levels. Such a state can lead to a wide range of metabolic disturbances and imbalances. Which eventually results in high levels of morbidity. A recent study (2) claims that macrovascular or cardiovascular complications are the main cause of death among people who have diabetes. In the case of microvascular factors (2), lower limb amputations are the primary elements of burden, which poses both physical and psychological harm. Apart from cardiovascular issues, cancer and end-stage renal disease (2) are the main concern, which is common among diabetic patients. Therefore, such an array of deadly metabolic disturbances can be identified as central problems.
Symptoms
Diabetes is one of the diseases, which have several symptoms, and they can substantially vary in overall prominence. For example, thirst and frequent urination can be a sign of the disease, and it can also be accompanied by an uncontrollable feeling of hunger (3). Another indicator of diabetes can be manifested in low energy and fatigue as well as a sudden worsening of vision, such as blurry eyesight. In addition, skin cuts might take more prolonged periods to heal and regenerate. Lastly, one might have numbing, painful, or tingling (3) sensations in the distal ends of the limbs. Therefore, if a person exhibits some or all these symptoms, he or she should seek out medical attention to conduct a proper diagnosis.
Types of Diabetes
It is important to note that the given manifestations of diabetes primarily differ in terms of causes. Type 1 disease is the result of a person’s immune system targeting the cells in the pancreas, which produce insulin. Therefore, the evidence suggests (4) that affected individuals are not capable of producing sufficient amounts of the hormone to properly regulate the blood glucose level. In other words, insulin supplementation can improve the overall condition of these people. However, type 2 diabetes (4) is the result of a person becoming resistant to insulin, where more than normal levels of the hormone are generated. It means that the cells are not responsive to adequate levels of insulin, which is why the pancreas overcompensates by secreting more amounts of the hormone.
Cure
It is important to consider the fact that treatment measures might differ based on the typological feature of the disease. In the case of type 1 diabetes, the main issue lies in the inability of a person’s pancreas to produce sufficient amounts of insulin. Therefore, the most optimal strategy revolves around supplementation of the hormone from outside sources. However, the key problem with type 2 diabetes is the notion of insulin resistance, where cells are unresponsive to the effect of the regulator. Thus, the curing procedures might begin with the introduction of lifestyle and dietary changes to reduce daily sugar consumption as well as decrease obesity level. In the more complicated cases, insulin therapy might be needed to achieve the required degree of responsiveness from the cells.
Statistics
Moreover, it is essential to take statistical data into account to have a more complete understanding of the scope of diabetes. Diabetes mellitus is a global problem that has only grown over the years. Statistics show (5) this disease affects 415 million people worldwide, which is 6-7 percent of the total population of the Earth. The main reason for the growth of the disease is a radical lifestyle change. According to statisticians (6), if the situation remains on its course, by 2025, the number of diabetics will double. The highest incidence rate was found among residents of the United States (6), where about 20 percent of the total population of the country suffers from diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in patients under 30 years of age, while women are much more likely to get sick. The disease of the second type develops in people over 40 years old and almost always occurs in obese people with increased body weight. Therefore, the given issue is an epidemic, which affects all nations, and thus, it requires the highest level of attention.
Conclusion
In conclusion, diabetes mellitus is a group of endocrine diseases that develop as a result of an absolute or relative deficiency of the hormone insulin. As a result, hyperglycemia develops, which is a persistent increase in blood glucose. The disease is characterized by a chronic course and disruption of all types of metabolism, such as carbohydrate, fat, protein, mineral, and water-salt. With diabetes mellitus, the formation of glycogen in the tissues decreases, as a result, the sugar content in the blood rises and it begins to be excreted in the urine. The development of diabetes mellitus is promoted by impaired central nervous regulation, eating disorders, excessive consumption of carbohydrates, infectious diseases, and hereditary predisposition. The consequences of the disease can be tumors, inflammation, and sclerotic changes in the pancreas. The treatment can depend on the manifestation of diabetes, but the most severe cases require insulin.
References
DeFronzo RA, Ferrannini E, Zimmet P, Alberti G. International Textbook of Diabetes Mellitus. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons; 2015.
Harding JL, Pavkov ME, Magliano DJ, Shaw JE, Gregg EW. Global Trends in Diabetes Complications: A Review of Current Evidence. Diabetologia. 2019;62: 3-16.
Holt T, Kumar S. ABC of Diabetes. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons; 2015.
Goldstein BJ, Mueller-Wieland D. Type 2 Diabetes: Principles and Practice. Boca Raton: CRC Press; 2019.
Chatterjee S, Khunti K, Davies MJ. Type 2 diabetes. The Lancet. 2017;389(10085): 2239-2251. Web.
CDC. National Diabetes Statistics Report, 2020.
Footnotes
- DeFronzo RA, Ferrannini E, Zimmet P, Alberti G. International Textbook of Diabetes Mellitus. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons; 2015.
- Harding JL, Pavkov ME, Magliano DJ, Shaw JE, Gregg EW. Global Trends in Diabetes Complications: A Review of Current Evidence. Diabetologia. 2019;62: 3-16. Web.
- Holt T, Kumar S. ABC of Diabetes. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons; 2015.
- Goldstein BJ, Mueller-Wieland D. Type 2 Diabetes: Principles and Practice. Boca Raton: CRC Press; 2019.
- Chatterjee S, Khunti K, Davies MJ. Type 2 diabetes. The Lancet. 2017;389(10085): 2239-2251. Web.
- CDC. National Diabetes Statistics Report, 2020. Web.