Type 2 diabetes is a disease that presents a great danger to the life of a human being, and there is currently no cure for it. It has an array of symptoms and signs that help identify this ailment, and, in turn, ease its consequences through treatment. The specific causes for it might differ, but the process behind it is the same: the body fails to properly regulate and use glucose as fuel (“Type 2 diabetes”). The fact that this disease is incurable lays great emphasis on its prevention and timely diagnosis.
Type 2 Diabetes Specific Characteristics
Type 2 diabetes is caused by two interrelated and simultaneous phenomena. First, poor production of insulin by the pancreas, and second, cells do not adequately respond to insulin and take in a lesser amount of sugar (“Type 2 diabetes”). The exact reasons for this are unknown, but excessive weight and low activity appear to be great contributors in addition to genetics, race, ethnicity, and age. It also dramatically affects people with lower incomes and education levels. In Canada, specifically, marginalized groups (such as First Nations and Metis) are at more considerable risk (“Diabetes in Canada in review, 2021”). This disease’s signs and symptoms include polydipsia, fatigue, blurred vision, frequent infections, polyphagia, slow-healing wounds, urinary frequency, paranesthesia, and neuropathy.
There are several types of patients that are more predisposed to diabetes. Patients with prediabetes, polycystic ovary syndrome, or areas of dark skin around armpits and neck have higher risks of diabetes. Gestational diabetes during pregnancy or giving birth to a child weighing approximately nine pounds also puts the patient at risk. The treatment for this disease entails oral medication, lifestyle management, insulin therapy, and a combination of treatments (“Diabetes in Canada in review, 2021”). The success of the treatment heavily relies on the quickness of the diagnosis.
Conclusion
In conclusion, diabetes is a severe disease that stems from the improper processing of insulin in the body. It has a great many symptoms by which it can be identified, and its causes range from biological to social factors. In particular, in Canada, a person’s categorization as a member of a marginalized group puts them at risk. With type 2 diabetes being incurable, the consequences of this disease can be restrained through various treatments and their combinations.
References
Diabetes in Canada in review, 2021. (2021). Web.
Type 2 diabetes. (2021). Web.